Kenya cabinet proposes 2012 election delay

Kenya cabinet proposes 2012 election delay

Kenya's cabinet on Tuesday proposed delaying next year's elections by four months.

Foreign donors and aid groups warned that any uncertainty about the next vote could spark more unrest after the country's last presidential poll sparked nationwide violence.

Under the Kenyan constitution approved last year, Kenya was due to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on August 14, 2012. The change would delay the votes until December 17.

 “Cabinet found the (December) date to be appropriate in view of the government budgetary cycle and time required for preparations for the next elections", said a statement by the Presidential Press Service.

Donors have urged Kenya to set a date as quickly as possible to avoid a repeat of the chaos that erupted after the previous poll in east Africa's largest economy.

Disputed election

The disputed result of 2007's presidential election triggered fighting across Kenya that killed more than 1,200 people.

The constitution was a key component in an accord signed by President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, then Kibaki's political rival and now prime minister, to end the ethnic bloodshed.

Self-serving political elite

Many Kenyans hoped it heralded a new chapter in Kenya's post-colonial politics that analysts say has been plagued by nepotism, corruption and a self-serving political elite. Some Kenyans see a delay as a ruse by lawmakers to make sure they get paid for an extra four months.

Kenya has some of the highest paid parliamentarians in the world.

"The cabinet is looking at this from a practical point of view. Of course, none of the MPs want to go home early, they want to sit for as long as possible", said political commentator, Kwamchetsi Makoha.

Reuters/Iheanacho/Ekata