Opposition leader Raila Odinga has told Kenyans to brace themselves for a fresh round of demonstrations.
Raila said they will be agitating for reforms at the IEBC as well as expressing their displeasure with Jubilee MPs’ attempts to change election laws.
The protests will be held twice every week; on Monday and Friday starting next week.
He said the protest by his supporters will go on for as long as reforms at IEBC are not realized and so long as Jubilee continues with its push to amend electoral law.
On Thursday, 144 Jubilee MPs voted for the reduction of time for publication of the Bill on Amendments to Electoral Laws, IEBC Act and Election Offences Act.
The publication will now take just a day up from 14 days.
NASA MPs, 53 of them, protested this moves and vowed to fight back.
An ad hoc committee has already been formed chaired by the sponsor of the Bill William Cheptumo (Baringo North) and is expected to table a report in Parliament on October 10.
Raila in reaction to the development said Jubilee is taking back the country to dictatorship era single-rule party.
He urged Kenyans to resist such a move adding Kenya does not belong to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
“I call upon this generation to arise and resist attempts by Jubilee to impose laws aimed at rigging elections. Enough is enough,” said the NASA Presidential candidate.
“Kenyans must tell Uhuru and Ruto that Kenya does not belong to them. We will start the demos on Monday.”
The ODM leader said the proposed amendments are reversing the spirit of democracy in Kenya.
“These amendments are worse than mlolongo voting style. They are even trying to remove powers from Chebukati,” he said as quoted by the Star.
Jubilee, added Raila, wants to change the rules that made them lose so that they can win.
But Leader of Majority in Parliament Aden Duale said the Bill is not targeting the Supreme Court but wants to seal loopholes that led to nullification of the August polls.
The changes to Elections Act will give more power to manual transmission of results compared to electronic transmission.
In addition, it has prescribed stiff penalties for Presiding officers, returning officers who fail to sign and stamp forms 34 A and 34 B which formed basis of nullification of August polls by the Supreme Court.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati will only announce the results of Presidential election when he gets dully signed and stamped forms 34As and 34Bs
By Pharis Kinyua. He’s an online Journalist and an author for Jamhuri News