Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki dissolved the country's parliament on Monday, effectively signaling his plans to call general elections before the end of the year.
The general elections expected to be held at the end of this year will mark the end of Kibaki's five-year first term into the office. "In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 59(2) of the Constitution of Kenya, I hereby dissolve the Ninth Parliament of the Republic of Kenya with immediate effect," Kibaki said in a televised address to the nation.
Kibaki enumerated some notable positive achievements during his tenure. "Parliament and the country spent a lot time and resources on the constitutional review process.
The business however remains uncompleted. This will be a priority item for the next Parliament so as to put the matter of a new Constitution behind us," Kibaki said.
Under current Kenyan law, the power to dissolve parliament and call elections rests on the incumbent president. Once the parliament is dissolved,elections must take place within a maximum of 90 days.
Kibaki, who is constitutionally permitted to seek re-election after completing his first five-year term under the multiparty constitution introduced in 1992, had earlier this year hinted that elections would be held in December.
The dissolution of parliament - Kenya's ninth since independence - comes barely a day after the parliament passed a controversial finance bill which the government introduced in the House this month. It also comes as the Kenyan leader signed into law 11 crucial bills, most notably the Political Parties Bills and the Employment Bill, which were presented to him on Monday by the country's chief legal officer.
The Kenyan leader appealed to the country's political leaders and Kenyans to ensure that the forthcoming general elections are peaceful, free and fair.
"I take this opportunity to wish all Honorable Members well as we return to our constituents to seek a new mandate. I also appeal to all political leaders and Kenyans in general to ensure that we have peaceful, free and fair general elections," he said.
"It is only through a fair and credible poll, free of violence and intimidation that the true verdict of the people will prevail. "
The program for the general elections to elect members of the parliament would be announced in accordance with Kenya's laws and it's now the responsibility of House Speaker Francis ole Kaparo to issue writs declaring the 222 seats vacant.
The law provides that the writs must be issued within 14 days of dissolution but Kaparo has said he did not have to wait the full 14 days allowed, which is just the maximum period, as he could even issue the writs in two days.
The dissolution of parliament also means that the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) is now obligated to spearhead the electoral process.
Source: Xinhua
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