Raila insists on December elections

Kisii county delegates cheer the Prime Minister Raila Odinga after opening the ODM Kisii County office in Kisii Town. PHOTO / PMPS

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday maintained that December 17 would be the date for the next general election.

Mr Odinga said the date had been settled upon by the cabinet, having considered several issues that will be interfered with should elections be held in August as stipulated in the constitution.

“The August date was not good with regard to the budget reading and that is why the cabinet settled for a December date,” he said.

The Prime Minister explained that since the budget is normally read in June, Parliament debate on it might go to October. This therefore necessitates the need for the current Parliament to remain in office until then.

He criticized the March 2013 date proposed by the IEBC, saying that it was against the constitution since the current Parliament would be eating into the time of the next Parliament.

“If elections are held in March, the next parliament will only have four years and five months in Parliament,” said Mr Odinga.

He was speaking during a meeting with ODM delegates drawn from Kisii and Nyamira counties at the Kisii sports club.

Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments and told the IEBC chairman Isaack Hassan that he had no mandate to declare the election date.

“I have gone through the new constitution and there is nowhere it states that the IEBC chairman should announce the general election date,” he said.

He said that a bill published by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Mutula Kilonzo had matured and should be brought to Parliament to confirm the elections date.

He threatened to mobilize Parliament to remove Mr Hassan from office for overstepping his mandate.

“Hassan has no power to do what the law does not allow him to do,” he said.

Nominated MP Musa Sirma said Rift Valley vote is not a preserve of Eldoret MP William Ruto as "he wants the people to believe."

“Even during former president Moi’s leadership, a number of voters from the region preferred presidential candidates outside the province. How then can Mr Ruto, who is not even a President, can expect to command all Rift Valley votes?” he posed.

Other leaders who addressed the delegates and rallied support for the PM were Chris Obure, manson Nyamweya, Charles Onyancha, James Gesami, Martiin Ogindo, Pollyns Daima and Simon Ogari.