Tuesday, January 01, 2013
The coming March 4 General Election the first after the enactment of the new constitution will be the highlight of key events this year.
The polls in which Kenyans will elect their fourth president will also have voters elect MPs, senators, governors, county representatives and women representatives to usher in a new Executive and new Legislature comprising the National Assembly and the 47-member senate.
The two main political forces, the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (Cord) and the Jubilee alliance have already picked their presidential candidates and their running mates.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga is the Cord torchbearer with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka as his running mate, while deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto are the Jubilee coalition’s presidential candidate and running mate respectively.
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi is set to contest the presidency on the ticket of the United Democratic Forum (UDF).
Others in the race include Narc Kenya presidential candidate Martha Karua, Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and former Permanent Secretary James Ole Kiyiapi.
During the year, Kenya celebrates its Golden Jubilee on December 12, this year, marking 50 years since it attained independence from the British in 1963.
In April of this year, Jubilee Coalition presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate, Eldoret North MP William Ruto will be heading to The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) for the hearing of their crimes against humanity cases.
The court has fixed April 11, 2013 as the commencement date of the charges facing them and radio presenter Joshua Sang.
Former head of public service Francis Muthaura’s case commences a day later, according to the ICC calendar.
President Kibaki is also expected to relinquish power and hand over to the new president to be elected during the coming polls.
Power is also expected to be decentralised from Nairobi to the newly created counties under the devolved system of government.
Source: Daily Nation