Poll date opens fresh rift in coalition
The announcement of the date of the General Election has opened yet another rift in the governing coalition that was already struggling with divisions over the pending International Criminal Court trials. (READ: Polls date the new frontier for conflict between principals)
The matter is likely to turn into a campaign issue with Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s allies seeking to benefit from public support for a December election.
The ODM secretariat drew first blood on Saturday by appealing directly to Kenyans to demand a December 2012 election date.
ODM secretary-general Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o dispatched a statement to the media in the morning warning the electoral commission not to bend to what he called the whims of political forces out to delay the next elections.
“The Kenyan people prefer that the next General Election be held in December, preferably on the 17th of December 2012 as the Cabinet had previously recommended,” Prof Nyong’o said.
“The Orange Democratic Movement urges all ODM leaders, members and supporters and the general public to support this stand. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission – IEBC – should avoid any temptation of serving any sectarian interests through extension of the life of the coalition government by exploiting lacunas in the law and fixing the date in March 2013,” he added.
Prof Nyong’o’s statement was similar to an earlier one released by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, also supporting a December 2012 election date.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua criticised the decision to schedule the election next year, describing it as illegal. (READ: Karua hits out at Executive over polls date)
“Holding the elections outside the five-year term would mean the President will be in office illegally and even we parliamentarians would be paid for a term the electorate did not give us,” Ms Karua tweeted immediately after the IEBC made the announcement.
“If the two principals respected the wishes of Kenyans, they would have by now announced a December election date to ease anxiety over this matter. They seem to enjoy using the election date as a secret weapon.”
The election date issue opens a new frontier in the incessant wrangles pitting the two principals against each other. At a function in Nyeri last week, President Kibaki openly pitched for a March 2013 date on grounds that he respected the court’s decision regarding the election date.
“It is important to restate that the court ruled when the election date will be – March 2013. I cannot change that because I respect what the court ruled,” he said.
Presidential hopeful Peter Kenneth, supported IEBC’s March 2013 date, saying Kenyans have no choice but to respect the court’s ruling.
“We as Kenyans are duty-bound to go by the date set by the electoral commission. I now appeal to the electoral commission to put in place mechanisms to ensure a free and fair election,” he said.
Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi said the date was not decided by the President but by the Constitutional Court and will not change unless the two principals dissolve the coalition government.
“Kibaki has no interest in the election date as he is satisfied retiring any time after his term. After all, what is three months in Kibaki’s life and he has been in power for all the years?”
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi said focus ought to be on the level of IEBC’s preparedness to conduct a free and fair election.
