Amkeni Wakenya

2012 Elections to be held Under the New Law

Posted at Mar 20, 2011

Kenyans will have new elections under the new Constitution, the PS  Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional   Affairs, Amb. Amina Mohamed has assured the country.
Speaking during a breakfast meeting held in Nairobi, with Amkeni Wakenya Stakeholder Reference Group, Amb.  Mohamed noted that though the country is behind schedule in the implementation of the Constitution, the process of enacting the Elections Bill and the bill establishing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ought to be fast-tracked to create the enabling environment.

 She noted a lot of  groundwork needs to be  undertaken by the new  electoral body as the  number of   polling stations in  constituencies may need to be increased dramatically , if  the elections are to be held on  one  day as stipulated in the Constitution.

During the same meeting, the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Aeneas Chuma said the implementation of the Constitution should be the main focus of the country and called on Kenyans not to be diverted by other side issues.

 He noted that lack of transparency and accountability and resultant impunity had made Kenyans lose complete trust in the institutions of governance and justice, leading to the Post Election Violence.  While Kenya has a new chance to renew itself under the new Constitution, he observed that those who had benefitted from this unjust system would obviously resist any changes that may render them powerless. He called on civil society to be the voice of change that will silence anti-reform forces.

Regrettably, he noted that civil society in the run-up to the 2007 elections was not spared the ethnic fragmentarisation that characterized the country at that time and observed that Kenya must develop strong institutions with clear checks and balances. Mr. Chuma pledged the continued support of UNDP, Embassy of Sweden, Royal Netherlands Embassy, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in the process of implementing the Constitution.