MPs seek to postpone next elections

MPs are quietly discussing the possibility of pushing ahead the date for the next elections following the amendment of a law that has made it difficult for the electoral commission to meet deadlines ahead of the 2017 polls.

The Nation on Monday learnt that even a Bill to postpone the elections had been drafted and is expected to be tabled by an MP from Mandera County.

So sensitive is the matter that Jubilee Party and Cord MPs are blaming one another for the initiative they silently support, which could see the country hold a referendum in a bid to move the elections date.

MPs Johnson Sakaja (nominated, Jubilee) and Junet Mohamed (Suna East, ODM) confirmed the discussions across the political divide, even as they stated that their parties were ready for the elections in August.

“That talk (about the possibility of postponing the elections) is ongoing and I am sure when we resume, it will be up for discussion,” said Mr Sakaja.

He said the Jubilee Party is, however, ready for the elections in August. At the same time, he claimed that Cord is not prepared for the polls since it is yet to settle on a presidential candidate.

“We in Jubilee are ready for the elections more than them. We have a presidential candidate; they don’t have one,” he said.

Mr Mohamed denied the claim and, instead, pointed a finger at Jubilee MPs, who he said had even gone ahead to draft a Bill to postpone the elections.

“We have discussed this matter in ODM and we want the elections in August next year. But it is our friends on the other side who are pushing for the postponement. There is a Bill drafted by a member from Mandera County that is coming,” he said.

Mr Sakaja and Mr Mohamed were, however, in agreement that some of the amendments to the Elections Act will not be achieved within the set time limits.

DEADLINES TOO SQUEEZED

“We have to be alive to the issues that are being raised by some MPs who were members of a joint committee that came up with recommendations that informed the amendments.

"When we win the next elections, we don’t want somebody to complain that some deadlines were too much squeezed,” said Mr Sakaja.

Mr Mohamed, who was a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on electoral reforms, admitted that some of the recommendations that have been made it into law cannot be met within the timelines.

“Some of the amendments cannot be achieved,” he said.

(READ: We are ready for poll in August - IEBC)

The leaders were referring to concerns that have been raised by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission over some of the changes to the election timelines and logistics.

Key among the changes is a requirement that the next elections be conducted using electoral technology and it sets December 8 as the date by which the gadgets must be bought.

“The new law requires that procurement of the technology must be done in an open and transparent manner. It then goes further to state that such technology must be procured at least eight months before the election.

"In this regard, the commission is expected to develop specifications, advertise, evaluate, award and receive the equipment by 8th December, 2016,” the IEBC states in a document signed by chief executive officer Ezra Chiloba.

The document warns that the procedures set by the Public Procurement and Disposals Act for the purchase of the biometric voter registration kits, electronic voter identifications devices and electronic transmission systems cannot fit within the new changes to the law.