As the Election laws amendment topic heats up, Kenyans are waking up to the fact that fresh protests are just around the corner come the new year. “This is a legal coup. The Jubilee coalition has decided to deny Kenyans free and fair elections, just as it happened in Burundi,” said CORD principal Raila Odinga as he addressed the press on the Election Laws. MPs from Jubilee and the opposition both seek to stablish their way in parliament, but it all turned chaotic, with accusations of harassment present. Jubilee MPs were accused of carrying weapons with them during the session, something that made opposition MPs to walk out.
“The speaker has outrightly abused his powers because he is only allowed to call a special session when something is urgent and related to a state of emergency, appointment to commissioners and impeachment of a president, his deputy or declaring war yet none of these are before us,” said Jakoyo Midiwo, citing the decision by speaker Justin Muturi to call a special sitting to discuss the amendments to election laws.
The amendment allows the use of a manual system of transmitting results and voter identification, something which has drawn bewilderment from the opposition so far, “Jubilee are breaking the law that was developed by experts,” said Raila Odinga, citing the laws that were laid down after CORD and Jubilee negotiations. The opposition has declared protests from 4th January as Kenyans eagerly anticipate what will happen next.