The Star 10/07/2017

The IEBC has made concessions and accepted six of Jubilee’s proposed amendments to the election laws. The commission now says it is comfortable with a proposed amendment seeking to have one of the commissioners assume the position of chairperson in the absence of the IEBC boss. To avert a legal ambiguity created by the proposed law, the IEBC has asked a joint parliamentary committee to replace the word “person” in the amendments with “member”. This, the IEBC says, it would make it clear that it would only be the commissioners who can assume the position of chairperson and not any other person. The commission chaired by Wafula Chebukati agreed with Jubilee’s changes on the framework for the transmission of presidential results. The commission told lawmakers to ensure physical delivery of…

METHANE IN KAJIADO Experts 100 per cent sure The gas discovered in a village in Kajiado county on Wednesday could be natural methane, preliminary analysis show. Two Geothermal Development Corporation experts from Nakuru told the Star in in Inkokirding’a on Friday they are “100 per cent sure” the sample they collected is pure natural methane gas. See Page 9 WYCLIFFE OPARANYA Federal system will tame tribalism Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya on Friday said Kenya should introduce a federal system of government to cure deep-seated tribalism and poll fraud. He spoke as NASA supporters held peaceful demos in Kakamega to push for reforms at the IEBC before the October 26 presidential rerun. Oparanya joined the protesters. See Page22 UHURU KENYATTA Raila wants power through back door President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday…

The European Union yesterday warned politicians against making unreasonable demands to the electoral agency, days to the October 26 repeat presidential poll. The EU issued the stern warning on the day the opposition mounted street protests in major towns to push for the removal of top IEBC officials, including CEO Ezra Chiloba. The union urged stakeholders to continue holding meaningful discussions with the IEBC, warning any detractions could affect the conduct of the polls. “With only a few days remaining until the October 26, actions and declarations against the IEBC could have an adverse effect on its ability to fulfil its Constitutional mandate,” the EU said in a statement. EU upped the pressure on Jubilee Party to drop controversial amendments to the election laws so close to the Election Day.…

JUST what is opposition leader Raila Odinga’s (pictured) “no election” game plan? Many Kenyans are asking what Raila’s secret card could be with his insistence that there will be no election on October 26. Even his closest allies are said to be fumbling and every time they are questioned they allude to a secret weapon. Is Raila working on something that can catch even his buddies flatfooted? ARE NASA leaders planning to go to Mombasa this weekend to organise more demos? We are told that some of the leaders are heading to the coastal town this morning to marshall their troops ahead of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tour of the region. Those in the know say the opposition chiefs are desperate to boost their demonstration numbers with the hope that they…

NASA’s game plan — not preparing for the rerun but instead shaking up the electoral landscape — has plunged Kenya into uncertainty. The Jubilee coalition will respond by ramming through its contentious election law amendments before the October 26 presidential rerun. If Raila doesn’t run or calls for a boycott, any election, if there is one, would lack credibility. If President Uhuru Kenyatta wins despite a boycott, or is declared winner, perhaps reelected unopposed, there would be questions of legitimacy. Quite possibly a constitutional crisis. This comes as IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati on Friday reconstituted his election project team. Raila Odinga’s opposition movement has not held a campaign rally for weeks. They seem to have frizzled out. Instead it concentrates on almost daily — sometimes twice daily — press conferences…

Forget arms and ammunition in modern warfare. Antagonists are seeking ingenious ways and all manner of tomfoolery to settle scores. Battlegrounds are gradually shifting from dusty and bloody killing fields to antics tied to the the intelligentsia’s world. What better method than to manipulate set systems and use kite-flying lingo to delegitimise them? One of the most effective ways is to use the law and the legal system to harass opponents, a strategy defined as ‘lawfare.’ The law as a weapon of war. According to the Western Journal of International Law, “Lawfare is asymmetric warfare, using the legal system against an enemy, such as by damaging or delegitimising them, tying up their time or winning a public relations victory.” Doesn’t that sound familiar? Since the year began, NASA has regularly…