NASA MP Drafts Bill to Move Elections Date from August to December

A National Super Alliance (Nasa) Member of Parliament has drafted a Bill that is seeking to move elections date from August to December.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa is set to table the Bill in Parliament, which, if passed into law will shift the date of general elections from the second Tuesday of August in every fifth year to the third Monday of December.

In the Bill dubbed Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2018, the Ford Kenya MP argues that the date should reflect the “unique circumstances and tradition of Kenya”.

Before the enactment of the 2010 Constitution, elections in Kenya were previously held in the month of December.

“The Bill seeks to introduce a new date for a General Election that would be more favourable to Kenya’s circumstances,” the Bill reads in part.

Wamalwa gives four reasons for the proposed change in elections date including; effect on the tourism industry, budget reading, and disruption of school calendar.

“The amendment seeks to restore the tourism high season and the aspirations of a section of Kenyans who are not able to get time out of their busy schedules to take part in the general election at their places of preference,” the bill reads.

“The amendment will also clarify and put to rest all doubts regarding the exact date of the next General Election and the term of the current Parliament.”

A similar bill was introduced in the National Assembly by former Ugenya MP David Ochieng, but flopped.