Plan to change 2022 election date revealed

dennis kibet

March 9, 2018 7:55 AM

According to the constitution, elections are scheduled to be held on the second Tuesday of August in every fifth year.

A plan to change the date of the 2022 general elections has been revealed.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa is set to introduce a bill that if passed into law, will change the date of elections from the second Tuesday of August in every fifth year as stipulated in the constitution to the third Monday of December.

In the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2018, Wamalwa says the date should reflect the “unique circumstances and tradition of Kenya”.

Traditionally, elections in Kenya have been held in December before the enactment of the 2010 constitution.

“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.

It is however not clear if the bill is supported by the NASA leadership.

The NASA MP highlighted four reasons for his push for the bill - busy work schedules, tourism, Budget reading, and disruption of school calendar, including national exams in case of a presidential runoff or rerun.

“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 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,” the bill reads.

A similar bill was introduced by former Ugenya MP David Ochieng but flopped.