Prisoners to Vote in the Referendum - IICDRC

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 15:27

Written by theNairobian

0 Comments

That body set up to stop the Kenyan judiciary from in any way curtailing the march to a new constitution for Kenya, or so we read somewhere, otherwise known as Interim Independent Constitutional Dispute Resolution Court (IICDRC) as finally struck a blow for the human rights of prisoners. In its ruling after an inspired suit by Shimo wa Tewa residents the court held that whereas the current constitution does not allow prisoners to vote in general elections it doesn't stop them from voting on the referendum - which is kind of a different animal or something like that.

IICDRC in its decision has held that the prisoners with sound minds do have a right to vote on the referendum and consequently has directed that those willing be registered to vote within 21 days and for good measure that for the August 4th 2010 referendum, the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) to gazette all the prisons as polling centers.

The IICDRC just stopped short of telling both the groups pushing for YES and NO votes to ensure that their supporters who are note registered voters can grab the opportunity to be jailed within those 21 days in order to register.

Meanwhile, a source that does not want to be named, as she claims there are several people who are out to get her, has told theNairobian.com that 'those of unsound mind' have instructed renown constitutional lawyers to also sue the IIEC to be allowed to vote as their exclusion is ' unconstitutional and a violation of their rights.'

| More...