Western Kenya leaders want referendum process expedited

Proponents of the BBI-driven constitutional amendments are salivating over a referendum, after flexing their numerical muscle in the National Assembly Thursday night.

While addressing Catholic faithfuls during the dedication and opening of Christ the King Catholic Cathedral in Bungoma Diocese, Western Kenya leaders called for fastracking of the BBI process, to allow Kenyans to determine the BBI bill’s fate in a referendum.

“The National Assembly did their part the Senate is remaining, and we want now the people to go to the referendum…after next week now we shall come back to mashinani,” CS Eugene Wamalwa said

The National Assembly leadership had yesterday hinted at a July or August referendum, but the senate has to vote on the bill, and the Speaker transmit the Senators verdict to President Uhuru Kenyatta, for onward transmission to the electoral body-IEBC.

The BBI rush ostensibly to provide a platform for unveiling political teams that will square it out in next year’s state house succession.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi held a series of closed door meetings to beef up his numbers.

On Saturday, he was at Kesses MP Swarup Mishra’s home, meeting businessmen and a section of MPs from Uasin Gishu County.

The meeting directed subtle jabs at Deputy President William Ruto, who has been deemed the defacto leader of the ‘NO’ team in the BBI discourse.

“You saw the numbers in the National Assembly, that is now data before you, you cannot say you have what you do not have,” Mudavadi said.

DP Ruto allies had yesterday dismissed the Thursday vote, insisting that the Tanga Tanga wing is keen on the facing its opponents come 2022.

Mathira lawmaker Rigathi Gachagua told off the handshake team that threatened to use the numbers to oust DP Ruto from office.

“If they think they have the numbers let them draw that impeachment motion and bring it if they think they have numbers…if they raise 233 its okay but let them not confuse the constitution and the reality of politics,” MP Rigathi said.

To impeach the Deputy President, at least 233 National Assembly members must vote in favor of such a motion, and at least 45 out of 67 senators have to affirm the ouster.