Jubilee carries the day as MPs debate changes to Election Laws

National Assembly has Thursday voted to reduce the publication period of the Elections Laws (amendment) bill 2017 from 14 days to 1 day.

144 MPs voted in support of the procedural motion while 53 voted against the motion which elicited heated debate between Jubilee and NASA legislators.

Majority leader Aden Duale said they were merely reducing the time so that they can dispense with the matter once and for all, even as Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa alleged there was something fishy in the manner the bill in is being rushed.

Bundalangi MP Raphael Wanjala was categorical that the move to reduce the publication period from 14 days to 1 day would deny Kenyans an opportunity to give their views.

His sentiments were echoed by Rarienda MP Atiende Amollo who said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will only conduct the fresh Presidential election in line with the constitution and not the rushed amendments.

And while the opposition MPs maintain that the amendments are an affront to the Constitution, Nominated MP Cecily Mbarire said Kenyans are tired of the threats by NASA and are ready for the Presidential election on 26^th whether NASA participates or not.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was however clear that NASA will not have any representation on house committees until the Presidential election is done.

And while NASA MPs walked out immediately after, the house also passed a motion to constitute an Ad-Hoc Committee on supplementary estimates for the year 2017/2018 to allocate funds to IEBC to enable the commission conduct a free, fair and credible Presidential election.