Is it pushing the date to 2013? Flashback to 21^st July, 2011 and, MP for Kilome, Harun Mwau, in a suit lodged at the High Court in Nairobi, said, “there has been confusion as to when the next general elections shall be held.” Mwau contends that the term of the 10^th parliament began on January 15, 2008, and shall end on January 15, 2013.

The cabinet and various members of parliament, across the coalition divide, are of the view that the new constitution preserves the term of the current parliament, until mid-January 2013. Article 262 (10) of the constitution states that: “The National Assembly existing immediately before the effective date shall continue as the National Assembly for the purposes of this constitution for its unexpired term.” Thus, the cabinet recently approved a Constitution Amendment Bill 2011, which seeks to alter the poll date. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmw_ceVMmws  Despite public uproar, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Mutula Kilonzo says, he will push through the Bill on election date, which sets the date for the next general elections on the third Monday of December, every fifth year of an elections cycle. Transitional provisions promise the current parliament its full tenure. It is however prudent to note that the last ‘contentious general elections’, that produced the 10^th parliament, was held before the new constitution came into force. Therefore, it would be more accurate to define the “full tenure” of the 10^th parliament, as it would have been defined, if the last constitution was in force. “The issue of an August date has never been contentious. The date was determined after consideration of the wishes of the people of Kenya which included submission that a December date interfered with the festive season when Kenyans travel to places where they may not have registered to vote: coincides with religious festivities and the prevailing weather conditions complicate the logistics of ferrying election materials.” CIC addressed. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSOWpxaZSo8 Undoubtedly, the wishes of the people of Kenya, expressed in the constitution, have an upper hand against any one single Bill prepared by a few representatives in government. “CIC wishes to remind Kenyans that what killed reforms in this country were “convenience” amendments of the constitution soon after independence… It is such amendments that Kenyans wanted the constitution to be insulated against.

This issue begs the question: Is this the 10^th parliament’s plot to extend its tenure in a quest to collect more campaign monies? Politicians should not blame time for their incompetency to perform required tasks. Rather, they should resign from office already, without wasting any more time. What Kenyans need is authentic people power, not the dumbocracy of political rule.

References:

Mwau Asks Court for 2013 Election Date allAfrica.com July 22, 2011

Why the Next Elections May Be Held in 2013 MENAFN.COM July 31, 2011

Change of 2012 poll date height of mischief, impunity Capital News September 14, 2011

Mutula firm on elections date amendment Capital News September 15, 2011

CIC warns over election date change KBC News September 17, 2011

Mutunga Wants Case On Date of 2012 General Election Speeded Up allAfrica.com October 6, 2011