National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga with Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya during a press briefing at Raila's home in Bondo, March 26, 2016.. [Photo: the-star.co.ke]
Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has backed some amendments on electoral laws being pushed by lawmakers allied to the Jubilee Party.Among the changes the ruling party is proposing, is to punish election officials who fail or refuse to sign or complete documents containing election results."The laws on punishing returning officers and presiding officers is relevant because why should somebody fail to sign or completely fill the statutory forms, which is a requirement? The law will make them more responsible and deliver credible elections," Oparanya wrote in an opinion piece published by the Standard.Oparanya, however, took issue with the timing in amending the laws, saying Jubilee should wait until the fresh presidential election set for October 26 is over."The amendment of the laws is suspect to many Kenyans. The laws cannot be changed midway in any competition. Because the timing is ill-advised, Jubilee should wait until we are through with the repeat elections, so that they can amend laws when everybody is sober," he added.Oparanya is deputy party leader of Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.