There is a looming among political leaders over the exact date the next General Election will be held.
This is after it emerged that there may be a conspiracy to extend the parliamentary term, which will, in turn, extend President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term in office.
Pro-BBI team led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and former prime minister Raila Odinga has maintained that its risky to hold next General Election before the issues that precipitated in the 2007 Post-election crisis are yet to be addressed through the BBI bill which seeks to amend 2010 constitution.
However, leaders allied to William Ruto say the push by their colleagues to have the 2010 Constitution reviewed through the BBI is a ploy to extend President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term in office.
The anti-BBI team has strongly objected the attempt arguing that the conditions contemplated in the Constitution for extending the term of parliament such as war do not apply currently.
“We are aware that they are working to extend the life of parliament so that they can remain in power but this will be resisted by Kenyans,” said former Senator John Muthama, the chairman of the Ruto-linked UDA party.
In what appears to be a game plan to postpone the next General Election, Jubilee party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju however wondered what criteria was used in 2012 when the elections were pushed to March 2013.
“We were not at war but what rationale did they use to postpone the 2012-13 election?” Tuju asked as quoted by the Daily Nation.
According to Tuju, the BBI issues are weighty matters close to the hearts of majority of Kenyans.
KANU party Secretary General Nick Salat echoed Jubilee’s stand saying the country cannot afford to hold a General Election before the underlying issues including those of post-election violence are not resolved.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands that the Court of Appeal has scheduled to listen to the case challenging the recent High Court judgement that nullified the BBI bill process.
This is likely to temper with the date for the next General Election should the Court of Appeal overturn the May 13, High Court Judgement.
This is due to the fact that a referendum cannot happen less than a year to the next General Election.
Last month, religious leaders weighed in saying the country does not have the finances to hold a referendum and General Election in less than a year.
The clergy instead advised the government to review the Constitution after the next year’s election.
