IEBC election laws debate rages despite assent

By Edward Kabasa

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is now authorized by law to put in place a complimentary mechanism for identification of voters and transmission of election results.

This is after President Uhuru Kenyatta last evening signed into law the election law amendment bill, paving the way for IEBC to have a manual back up to the electronic system.

President Kenyatta assented to the bill as the Opposition CORD readies to hold a meeting at the Bomas of Kenya tomorrow to deliberate on how to counter the law it claims puts into question the credibility of the August polls.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has finally signed the election law amendment bill, cementing Jubilee’s resolve to put in place a backup to the electronic voting process.

The amendments mean that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissions (IEBC), can now put in place a complimentary mechanism for identification of voters and transmission of election results if the electronic system fails.

The Opposition has vehemently protested against the amendments, and is scheduled to meet this Wednesday at the Bomas of Kenya to take a stand on its next course of action.

However proponents of the amendments have castigated CORD, accusing the Opposition of planning to scuttle the August Polls.

Meanwhile residents of Laikipia North have been urged to come out in large numbers and register as voters when the process kicks off next Monday.

The electoral body IEBC  seeks to register an additional 6 million voters, in a move that will see the total number of voters hit 20 million ahead of the August polls.