[A file photo of President Uhuru Kenyatta. He says changes to election laws were precipitated by loopholes identified by court. Courtesy: The Star]
President Uhuru Kenyatta has defended Jubilee Party's move to amend sections of the electoral laws ahead of the October 26 repeat polls.
Speaking at State House on Monday, Uhuru noted that the proposed amendments were aimed at remedying the weaknesses the Supreme Court gave as their basis for nullifying his August 8 victory.
“The Supreme Court said that the forms 34B had a problem, that a number were unsigned and unstamped. The MPs then decided that it is not possible for a presiding officer or a returning officer not to sign or stamp the forms so that 45 million Kenyans suffer. The MPs stated that it would be an offence. So is that right or wrong?” he posed.
“Didn’t my competitor state that we are cheating using the computer? Will this not help him the way he wanted? So where is the problem now? Is there anything wrong we have done?” he continued.
The Head of State further accused Opposition coalition NASA leaders of holding the country hostage through their irreducible minimus.
NASA have rejected the proposed amendments, asserting that they are unnecessary at this stage.
On their part, they are demanding surgical reforms within electoral body IEBC, including the removal of the commission's CEO Ezra Chiloba from office.