The contentious Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2017 sponsored by Baringo North MP William Cheptumo has sent the Opposition NASA into a wild frenzy.NASA argues that the Jubilee Party is only trying to entrench its position and that of its candidate President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of repeat presidential poll slated for October 26.But is NASA really justified in vilifying Jubilee for seeking to make amendments to the election laws to 'ensure smooth elections?'Well, here are five amendments that might have led NASA to even storm out of the tripartite pre-election talks at the Bomas of Kenya on Thursday.First, the amendments seek to provide for President Uhuru Kenyatta to be declared the winner in the October 26 repeat elections if Nasa flagbearer Raila Odinga makes good his threat not to take part in the repeat poll if only he informs the IEBC in writing.Second, on results transmission, the bill says although both electronic and manual systems will be used, the manual one takes precedence in case of conflict.Third, the proposed law seeks to make it possible for the vice chairman of the IEBC to act as the chairman in the absence of the substantive chairman. If both the chairman and the vice chairman are absent, the rest of the members of the commission would elect one of them as the chairman.Fourth, the amendment seeks to reduce the powers of the electoral commission chairman and entrench the manual system of transmitting results.Finally, the change would also make it possible for at least three commissioners to make a decision as the commission by lowering the quorum for its meetings from five to half of the existing members but not less than three.

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