Former Presidential Aspirant Ekuru Aukot Collects 500,000 Signatures in Push for Referendum

Former presidential aspirant Ekuru Aukot has so far collected more than 500,000 signatures to push for a referendum dubbed "Punguza Mzigo."

In his referendum push, the Thirdway Alliance party leader seeks to reduce the national wage bill by cutting down the number of Members of Parliament from the current 416 to 194.

Aukot  says the move will reduce Parliament's annual wage bill from the current Sh36.8 billion to Sh5 billion. He proposes that each of the 47 counties be turned into constituencies for purposes of Parliamentary elections.

Speaking to a local news outlet on Tuesday, Aukot said his party has collected slightly above half-a-million signatures and exuded confidence that they will hit the required one million signatures in coming weeks.

He said that the signatures are being collected through an online platform launched by Thirdway Alliance earlier this year.

"So far we have over 500,000 signatures. We've been to Samburu North, Nakuru, Kiambu, Nairobi and in all these places Kenyans are tired," Aukot stated.

"Our target is to have it (referendum) before 2022. We are collecting signatures on the ground and online and by next year we can have a referendum," he stated.

Aukot spoke after holding a meeting with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati over his push for referendum.