Kenyans’ focus shifted to a dramatic development at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, where President William Ruto signed into law the 2024 Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) (Amendment) Bill.
The ceremony began with an opening prayer, followed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, presenting the vellum copies of the bill to President Ruto for his signature and official seal.
“These vellum copies have the consent of the speaker of the houses of parliament to present these vellum copies before you for your assent. This bill, your Excellency, is the first bill to anchor the resolutions of the houses of parliament with respect to the NADCO report,” Njoroge explained as Ruto signed the copies of the bill.
After signing and affixing his seal to the copies, President Ruto distributed the bill to several senior leaders, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Attorney General Justin Muturi, and Azimio co-principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka.
Kalonzo Musyoka quickly drew attention during his remarks by criticizing the heavy deployment of armed police on major streets around KICC, which he argued made access to the area nearly impossible.
“I didn’t find it easy to come here this morning for various reasons, one of which was the barricading of the route to KICC, but I must thank the organizers for having brought it to KICC, because if it was a State house, Mr. President, it would even have been a little harder to get in there,” the Wiper Party leader said.
Kalonzo Musyoka remarked that the closure of roads by police signaled a critical juncture for the country. He subtly linked this measure to recent anti-government protests by Gen Z, comparing them to Azimio’s demonstrations last year.
Kalonzo criticized the Kenya Kwanza team at Bomas of Kenya for dismissing the cost of living agenda advocated by Azimio during the National Dialogue Committee sessions. He pointed out the irony that a year later, the government faced similar issues raised by Gen Z concerning the same agenda.
“As Azimio La Umoja One Kenya, our number one topic was the high cost of living but Ichung’wah and the team from Kenya Kwanza convinced us that it was a government responsibility, and the opposition had nothing to do with discussing the high cost of living.
I hope that in the light of recent developments, my friend Ichung’wah would have revised that thought,” Kalonzo who co-chaired the Nadco sittings with the Kikuyu MP said.
He praised Gen Z for their effective organization of protests, suggesting they had surpassed the opposition in this regard. Kalonzo Musyoka emphasized that President Ruto must heed their demands.
He urged a fresh perspective on the country’s direction, acknowledging Gen Z’s role in representing national interests. Kalonzo highlighted their efforts as surpassing previous generations’ struggles, which sometimes resulted in near-fatal outcomes.
The former Vice President called on Parliament to swiftly process the remaining eight bills originating from the Nadco report. He emphasized the significance of the IEBC amendment bill, the first outcome of the Bomas national dialogue, as a crucial step in addressing national issues.
“I wish we had moved with speed. It has taken an inordinate delay to get to where we are today, to get the first product out of NADCO. It is expected of us to even fast-track the other eight (Nadco report bills). They have to be juxtaposed with the reality of the country and this new revolt. If we are not careful, all of us will get thrown out by the Gen Cs, because they say, we have come of age,” Kalonzo warned.
