Could the circus playing out at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission be a deliberate effort to torpedo the credibility of the polls body from within, and scuttle the elections? If doubts can be planted in the minds of politicians and voters that the commission is somehow being manipulated by people intent on rigging the elections, its fate would be irrevocably sealed.
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AG Githu Muigai’s promise to speed up enactment of the Media Bill is welcome, but that is not enough. He should ensure the Bill is published well before it is tabled in Parliament so stakeholders and the public can scrutinize it keenly. There is concern that clauses meant to gag the media and tilt the industry in favour of certain players might be sneaked into the Bill at the last minute and passed by a Parliament that pays scant attention to detail.
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Why President Kibaki feels it is necessary to belabor the point about him not anointing a successor is a mystery. The more the man from Othaya denies it, the more people are convinced that there are several State House “projects” active in the field. And what is so bad about the President backing a candidate anyway, so long as he does so in his private capacity?
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Presidential candidates are as usual making all manner of promises they know they can’t keep. Sabatia MP Musalia Mudavadi’s promise to boost police numbers is a case in point. With the Government struggling to pay teachers and doctors and finance the incoming County Governments, he should tell us what magic formula he plans to use to achieve such a feat.
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It is interesting to see how the PM’s rivals have suddenly steered clear of using Miguna Miguna’s book to pound him in the popularity stakes. Have they realised that throwing stones while living in glass houses is a bad idea or have they been steered off-course by the PM’s decision not to respond to the claims?
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And finally...
Still on Peeling Back the Mask, the PM can’t complain about the demos outside his office after previously attacking the police for breaking up similar demos seen to target his political rivals. Enjoy your right to free speech!
editorial@standardmedia co.ke
