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"content": "Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Before I was rudely interrupted by my great friend, I was saying that an election in August is really disruptive on our calendar and particularly on our school calendar. In the previous election when we had a re-run of election, some of us said that our children will not die if elections are postponed. That shows the country how elections were disrupting our school calendar. It is not only about the school calendar. August is normally one of the highest seasons for tourists visiting our country. It is always two months after the Budget is read and it is probable that IFMIS is not opened up, there are no enough funds, the activities of State Corporations during the month of August are normally enhanced, that is the time they are budgeting and setting up their performance contracting. In addition, August is the month harvesting in our country. We harvest maize, barley and wheat. It is generally a busy season. At that time, there is electioneering fever and it disrupts farmers. You do not necessarily farm in Nairobi because you live in Nairobi, your farm could be in Narok or Baringo, but you live in Nairobi. At that time you are busy harvesting and it is an election day. It is normally the second Tuesday of August which is in the middle of the week. Some people are on duty on Monday and are required to be on duty on Wednesday yet they registered as voters over 1000km away. Some civil servants are transferred on daily basis. Probably you are registered as a voter in Kisumu and you are transferred to Mandera and you are required to have one single day to travel from Mandera to Kisumu to vote and come back. That is what explains the low voter turnout during the August elections. During December elections, most of us are relaxed, most private companies give their employees holidays, people have finished harvesting, our children are at home; it is normally a festive season and probably will enjoy voting. I support the moving of election date from August to December."
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