Anti-senate bid a PNU ‘ploy to scuttle reforms’

Siaya

Two Cabinet ministers have accused PNU of using unorthodox means to frustrate the implementation of the new Constitution.

Lands Minister James Orengo and his Immigration counterpart Otieno Kajwang’ claimed calls by Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni to abolish the senate were a ploy to scuttle the Constitution implementation process.

“The new Constitution was voted overwhelmingly by the majority of Kenyans and schemes to amend a section of the document are tantamount to watering down the gains,” said Mr Orengo.
He claimed that anti-reformists within PNU were hiding behind Mr Kioni to scuttle reforms.

“ODM stands for the full implementation of the new Constitution as voted overwhelmingly by the public but PNU is using unorthodox means to frustrate the efforts,” he said.

The two were speaking on Monday during a funds drive in aid of Effeso Legio Maria Church in Ugenya constituency.

Mr Kajwang’ said that the passage of the new Constitution was geared towards devolving resources to the grassroots, adding that efforts to amend the Constitution were futile.

“ODM stands for the equal distribution of resources to every county as envisaged in the new Constitution, but PNU wants to maintain the status quo,” the Mbita MP said.

Mr Orengo claimed those who opposed the new Constitution during the referendum had regrouped to scuttle the implementation process.

“The nays cannot pretend to be at the forefront to dictate the prosperity of the new Constitution and the public should watch such leaders,” he said.

Mr Kajwang’ noted the perceived dispute on the process of distributing resources to county governments was a political supremacy war between ODM and PNU.