President Uhuru Defends Proposed Amendments on Election Laws

President Uhuru Kenyatta has defended the two controversial bills tabled in Parliament on Thursday proposing critical changes to electoral laws amid heightened rejection from various quarters.

Speaking at a rally in Busia County on Friday, the Head of State said that the new changes will block irregularities in elections by placing criminal responsibility on electoral officials who refuse to follow regulations in the future.

"We are seeking to ensure officials who refuse to sign forms are punished for it. What is wrong with that? We want them to go to jail for five years if they refuse to do their job,".

"Aren't these the things our opponents complained about?" Uhuru asked.

President Uhuru argued that anomalies found in last month's elections, that has since been nullified will be cured by changing the law.

The proposed changes have been met with spirited rejection from opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) who likened it to changing the rules of the game at halftime.

The opposition alliance is specifically opposed to changes enabling Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vice chairperson to do the duty of the chairman if the chairman is away or unable to work.

NASA leader Raila Odinga said the new changes would take the country to the old days of election rigging and vowed to resist it with all means available.