Speaker Muturi in step with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto/COURTESY
NYANDARUA, Kenya, Jul 31 — National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and a section of leaders allied to the Jubilee government have criticised some recommendations being made by the opposition in regard to the forthcoming 2017 General Elections.
The leaders said some of the recommendations, among them a declaration of Presidential results at the constituency level and having part time electoral officials was not impractical but also against the Constitution.
They called for respect of the Constitution adding that any amendments and approvals must be in the interest of Kenyans and not a few individuals.
They noted that such move would be a recipe for violence after the elections and hence called on the opposition to have a re-look at their recommendations.
The leaders were speaking at Ndaragwa trading centre in Nyandarua North Sub-County during a fundraising ceremony organised by the area Member of Parliament Francis Waweru Nderitu for the purchase of water pipes for the local community.
Those who accompanied the National Assembly Speaker were Ol-Kalou Member of Parliament David Njuguna Kiaraho, Samwel Gichigi (Kipipiri), Peter Githinji (Mathira), JM Waiganjo (Ol-Joro Orok) and their Siakago counterpart Muriuki Njagaugua.
The leaders opined that the opposition leadership was sensing defeat in the coming general elections and hence it was now looking into ways of ensuring that the polls do not take place.
They questioned why the opposition kept on shifting goal posts instead of addressing the real issues with soberness.
The speaker called for respect of independent institution saying going to the street or calling for mass action would not help solve critical issues being raised by a section of the leadership.
He also disagreed with the CORD argument that their recommendations would not be passed due to the so called “tyranny of numbers”.
Muturi said it was prudent to show respect to the institution mandated to make law and also respect the outcome of any given contest.
Ol-Joro Orok Member of Parliament JM Waiganjo said some demands by the opposition were uncalled for.
He said calling for Kenyans to reject the current voters register was detrimental to the electoral process saying this was would be in the interests of few individuals who want to interfere with the elections.
He said the register cannot be re-done before next year’s August general election due to the time frame provided for.
On his part, Ndaragwa MP Waweru Nderitu called for the IEBC Amendment Bill to be re-introduced in the House for debate to take place and to pave way for the appointment of new Commissioners ahead of the polls.
About The Author
