Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi has said the Parliamentary Leadership Committee has in unison with the Judiciary and IEBC resolved to embark on amendments to the Elections Act 2012 and the Political Parties Act before the August general elections to ensure that the electoral process will be credible, fair and transparent.
Speaking at Meru National Polytechnic in Imenti North Sub County where they were addressing the Kenya Secondary School Heads Linturi said that as leaders they are seriously committed to delivering a credible election as they have agreed to amend some parts of the law to be amended to be able to give a credible, fair and transparent election.
He said the decision for amendments stem from the realization that the Political Parties Act formed the Elections Dispute Tribunal with 14 people and gives it powers to handle the disputes arising from the party primaries to be resolved within 18 days.
He added that it is not possible to hear all the cases in Kenya within those days yet the more you delay the more problems you cause and they will amend that law to give powers to the Chief Justice to co-opt members into that tribunal so that where there are cases they can have them heard simultaneously in various parts of the country to reduce the time.
He further said that that the Elections Act will be amended to give the right of appeal to any candidate that is dissatisfied with the outcome of any elections results to be given a right of appeal only once at a higher level court because in last elections there was a loophole where losers filed appeals all through to the Supreme Court.
Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, Lands Cabinet Secretary Professor Jacob Kaimenyi and Principal Secretary for Defense Ambassador Kirimi Kaberia said urged residents to participate in the voter registration exercise so as to elect leaders who bring development to their regions rather than electing leaders who are anti-development.