Prepare for a Referendum Next Year, Raila Tells Kenyans
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has told Kenyans to prepare for a constitutional referendum in 2019.
Odinga said the Building Bridges taskforce formed after his famous March 9th handshake with Present Uhuru is currently collecting public views across the country and will compile a report after the exercise.
He said referendum is to be part of the initiative to fix the country’s challenges including electoral injustice among others agreed in the deal with Kenyatta.
“The referendum will be the best thing for Kenyans as they will have the opportunity to address some of the long running problems that have been facing them,” Odinga said.
Raila said the committee has been given Sh100 million to complete the task in the next six months.
“We agreed with the President that as soon as the task force finishes collecting views across the country, the buck will stop with the people through another vote,” added Raila.
The building bridges team is made of Dr Adams Oloo, Agnes Kavindu, Busia Senator Amos Wako, Florence Omose, Saeed Mwanguni, James Matundura, Major (Rtd) John Seii, Bishop Lawi Imathiu and Samburu Woman Representative Maison Leshomo.
Others are Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji, Morompi ole Ronkai, Bishop Peter Njenga, Rose Moseu and Zecheus Okoth.
The taskforce is co-chaired by lawyer Paul Mwangi and ambassador Martin Kimani.
Comments
The only referendum Kenyans…
Permalink
The only referendum Kenyans should entertain is one to reduce bloated governance structure - reduce number of MCAs, MPs, Senators etc. Anything else is a con.
Very true, lakini ata hii…
Permalink
In reply to The only referendum Kenyans… by Ben (not verified)
Very true, lakini ata hii commission is unjust and unfair ukiona who are the members, same old same old recycled and useless kina Haji sijui na nani kwani kenya watu hakuna. Commissions are becoming another way of wasting money by appointing cronies with no relevant experience pertaining to the issue at hand. and yes reduce the gov size and while you at it put a cap on external loans and deficit
Agreed, wage bill is a…
Permalink
In reply to The only referendum Kenyans… by Ben (not verified)
Agreed, wage bill is a killer. Women rep and governor seats have to be reduced.
Counties need to be put on a budget and their expenditure made public for all to see.
All people vying for public office should release their tax returns.
Very true, lakini ata hii…
Permalink
In reply to The only referendum Kenyans… by Ben (not verified)
Very true, lakini ata hii commission is unjust and unfair ukiona who are the members, same old same old recycled and useless kina Haji sijui na nani kwani kenya watu hakuna. Commissions are becoming another way of wasting money by appointing cronies with no relevant experience pertaining to the issue at hand. and yes reduce the gov size and while you at it put a cap on external loans and deficit
Referendum for Secession…
Permalink
Referendum for Secession should also be included.
Let us stop pretending “Tuko Pamoja”.
We want our own country.
A referendum for secession will get 1Million signatures in less than 6 hours.
What's this drunkenness with…
Permalink
What's this drunkenness with referendum. To succeed, the team will have to ignore such utterances, do their job, and if referendum is the solution, so be it. If resolution is outside a referendum, or better alternatives are identified, take that as well. If the commission focus is on a referendum, it will fail. But we also have experience on that as well.
The last referendum led to…
Permalink
The last referendum led to our current state of chaos. I wouldn't hold my breath for another one. What a waste of public funds.
I agree.
Permalink
In reply to The last referendum led to… by Mumbi (not verified)
I agree.
Why Co chaired by Mwangi and…
Permalink
Why Co chaired by Mwangi and kimani. The commission is biased. Should have been disbanded on day one.
Elaborate on what you know…
Permalink
In reply to Why Co chaired by Mwangi and… by Abdi Wario (not verified)
Elaborate on what you know about Mwangi and Kimani.
Yes. A referendum to scrap…
Permalink
Yes. A referendum to scrap the unnecessary governor and other eating positions that he, Raila created. A constitution is not a woman's dress that you change daily as you wish. We hope Raila, you are not seeking a Prime Minister position because that will not be acceptable. Neither will any newly created positions be acceptable. At this time we must let the constitution work and only remove the fake positions. However, Kenyans have to be very careful, the same old stale brains that put us in this predicament are the same brains that we expect to improve it. God help Kenya!!!
Be Objective and focused on…
Permalink
In reply to Yes. A referendum to scrap… by Anonymous UI (not verified)
Be Objective and focused on harmony and well being of kenyan people not an individual - Raila. However it's true to note that today there's peace in kenya after elections because of the Governor issue... every county feels like, after all they have their mini president.
Go to your history, the coalition govt with the Prime Minister position performed so well compared any other Government in kenyan history. kenyans will readily accept it back in a
referendum. All we need to do urgently is to reduce the devolved units / counties to a maximum of 16 which are viable and do away with nominated representatives at all levels. The elected ones are enough. Let's reserve some slots for the special interest groups only..... they compete on their own, instead of waiting to nominate.
Yes. A referendum to scrap…
Permalink
Yes. A referendum to scrap the unnecessary governor and other eating positions that he, Raila created. A constitution is not a woman's dress that you change daily as you wish. We hope Raila, you are not seeking a Prime Minister position because that will not be acceptable. Neither will any newly created positions be acceptable. At this time we must let the constitution work and only remove the fake positions. However, Kenyans have to be very careful, the same old stale brains that put us in this predicament are the same brains that we expect to improve it. God help Kenya!!!
The only referendum tht…
Permalink
The only referendum tht Kenya should consider is trimming the bloated government..Anything else besides that is selfish manupalation of seeking idividual power through handshake...
karibuni, not only to reduce…
Permalink
karibuni, not only to reduce, but to do away with the following among others.
1.women reps
2. senators
3.ward reps, administrors,county ministers,
4.nominated MPs
5.governors
6.some commissions
7.county commissioners
8.provincial administration
D.O,D.C,chiefs, subchiefs
to be replaced by wazee wa miji kumi.
9.abolish several T.S.C units.
10. reduce taxation rate, loan rates...
Mr, Raila, Kenyans know what…
Permalink
Mr, Raila, Kenyans know what they want.Their needs have not changed since independance. Here is alist to refresh your mind on what their needs are:But not limited to-
Security
Jobs
Good hospitals like those Mpigs use
Good roads
Good education
Lower Mpigs salary
And the biggest one is jail those who have looted public funds.Otherwise fight against corruption is just a farce.
Add new comment