Majority of Kenyans Support Proposal to Move Elections Date from August to December

The National Assembly Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs on Friday held sessions in Eldoret and Mombasa to collect views from Kenyans on the proposed bill seeking to shift the elections date from August to December.

A majority of Kenyans who appeared before the Committee in the two areas were in support of the Bill.

“We have elections in August and we have seen what our teachers go through in making sure they finish the syllabus before August elections to avoid any interruptions,” said Ms Grace Oloo at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa.

The 2010 Constitution states that a general election will be held every second Tuesday of August in the fifth year. However, the new Bill crafted by Kiminini Member of Parliament Chris Wamalwa proposes the elections date be moved to every third Monday of December of the fifth year.

“The amendment seeks to restore the tourism high season and the aspirations of a section of Kenyans who are not able to get time out of their busy schedules to take part in the General Election at their places of preference,” the Bill reads in part.

The House Committee also held similar public hearings in Nairobi and Kisumu on Thursday, with most Kenyans throwing their weight behind Wamalwa's bid.

Diana Koech from Centre of Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD) said moving the date to December would allow more Kenyans to participate in the crucial democratic right.

“If the date is moved to December, this will allow most people to go back and vote in their homes.”

However, a small section of Kenyans are against the change citing a number of reasons including the effect on Kenya's Tourism Industry.

“In December, Kenyans are usually on holiday and a good number travel to up country during this time, thus it will inconvenience them,” said Ms Hamisa Zaja from Likoni constituency.