Askari Kanzu
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 7, 2011
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Samuel N. Mwenga, a Kenyan lawyer thinks otherwise. In his article "Elections Must Be Held In 2012, Not In 2013 As The Constitutional Court Ruled" he argues:-Hawajairuka katiba, nyie ndio hamuelewi katiba mpya ya Kenya inavyosema. Katiba inasema eti uchaguzi ufanywe baada ya bunge kumaliza term yake ambayo ni miaka mitano. Kwa sababu bunge hili lilianza term mnamo tarehe 13 Januari 2008, term yake inaisha 13 January 2013...
Samuel N. Mwenga, a Kenyan lawyer thinks otherwise. In his article "Elections Must Be Held In 2012, Not In 2013 As The Constitutional Court Ruled" he argues:-
Although the new Constitution stripped the presidents power to dissolve Parliament, and therefore cause new general elections, the new Constitution clearly fixed the date for the general elections for Members of Parliament, to be on the second Tuesday in August in every fifth year.
This date is mandatory and automatic under Article 101 of the constitution.
There is no more need for the president to dissolve Parliament in order for elections to take place and neither is such a declaration necessary; the clock starts ticking on the date of elections and on the second Tuesday in August of the fifth year, its go back to the people and seek a new mandate for MPs and the president.
Members of the 10th Parliament were electedand I always use the term sparingly, given some were obviously rigged in, on December 27, 2007. The members were sworn in on that cantankerous 15th day of January, 2008, which means, the next Parliamentary elections must be on August 14, 2012, under Article 101 of the constitution (second Tuesday in August of the 5th year), counting from the date of election, not the date of swearing in.
This is the only interpretation that makes sense and, even though one other might (holding the first elections under the new Constitution in December 2012), all others must be viewed with great suspicion as mischief must be lurking underneath.
Read his point of view (I am sure he is not the only one!)
It's all open to debate. That's what legal interpretation is all about. BTW who are you to say that Mwenga has got it wrong?
Still a long way to go though.
O really? Of course they can.yes, we know that, but at least we are moving (in the right direction, i might add). Some other countries around us really cannot say the same, can they?
O really? Of course they can.
like which one? Listen, don't forget that Kenya is still a poor third world country. It does not help comparing yourself with others in the same boat. You just have to live with that!no, some of them really can't!
Nope, he's wrong and the High Court were very clear about why. I doubt that you've taken the time to read their judgement before declaring that they are wrong on the constitution of Kenya, they know it better than you do. He's wrong because he looks at it with tunnel vision as if the constitution exists in a vacuum One of the conditions of the National Accord and Reconciliation act of 2008 was that this particular parliament must have a full five year term..that was one of the key conditions of the establishment of this coalition government. The judgement from the court says that all subsequent elections must be held in August of the 5th year but because of the establishment of this particular government through the UN brokered National accord, it's conditions must be met.
Even Charles Nyachae, who's the chair of the Constitutional Implementation Commission, has said that the ruling demonstrated the independence and authority of the judiciary in constitutional matters.