Cord’s constitutional amendment drive on course

Coalition for Reform and Democracy (Cord) leader Raila Odinga addresses supporters after presenting copies of signatures from voters to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), at Anniversary Towers on November 9, 2015. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The draft bill, conceived under the Okoa Kenya campaign, proposes several amendments including conferring more powers to the Senate, which will ensure the house has a role in the appointment of members of independent commissions and land adjudication.

Coalition for Reform and Democracy (Cord) on Monday presented a draft bill to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) seeking to amend the Constitution.

The draft bill, conceived under the Okoa Kenya campaign, proposes several amendments including conferring more powers to the Senate in order to execute their oversight duty over national institutions effectively.

Accompanied by one million signatures collected from voters as part of the requirement in agitating for an amendment, Okoa Kenya Committee of Experts Chairman Paul Mwangi handed over a copy of the draft bill and another containing the signatures to IEBC Vice-Chairperson, Ms Lillian Mahiri-Zaja.

The electoral body is expected to substantiate the signatures, a process that will take three months. After the verification, it will then submit the bill to the 47 county assemblies for debate, which will take another three months.

The Cord leader, Mr Raila Odinga, said: “We have now handed the ball over to IEBC, it is now upon them to kick the ball to the county assemblies to debate the bill.”

Mr Moses Wetangula, Ford Kenya party leader, said the bill was “something better” to improve the constitution adding that the draft if subjected to a referendum would help strengthen devolution and offer Kenyans a “better life”.

Other leaders included Wiper party leader Mr Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua.