Nairobi: A bill to ensure the passage of regulations to oversee the smooth handing over of presidential powers is in the pipeline. This was revealed by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during the burial of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chair Wafula Chebukati at Sabata in Trans Nzoia County. Mudavadi explained that the passage of the bill was a well-thought-out idea that would help prevent similar scenes like those that happened during the 2022 general election from reoccurring, where he noted the nation was almost thrown into chaos.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula, who was present, called for a change of culture among Kenyans to erase the mentality where those who lose elections point fingers at the referee. He emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in politics where election losers blame the referee while those on the winning end praise the same person.
The sentiments were made after the family of the late Chebukati, led by his wife Mary, narrated the tribulations and abuse the family received from a section of Kenyans dissatisfied with how the late chair handled the 2022 presidential results. The family revealed the trauma they were subjected to by social media users even after the death of their loved one.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who sympathized with the family, said it is wrong to rejoice because a family somewhere has lost a loved one who in many aspects was depended on. He urged Kenyans and politicians to interrogate where things go wrong in an election cycle to prevent a repeat of such events after every election. Natembeya highlighted the need to draw lessons from the past, citing the similar situation faced by former chairman Samuel Kivuitu and his family.