Cord MPs: Attempt to stop plebiscite will fail

Some ODM legislators from Nyanza on Friday criticised attempts to stop the referendum through the courts.

The politicians said those seeking to stop the vote were wasting time and vowed to push on with the collection of signatures despite the attempts by a Jubilee MP to derail the process.

The MPs included Mr Ken Obura (Kisumu Central), George Oner (Rangwe), Agostino Neto (Ndhiwa), David Ochieng (Ugenya) and Jared Opiyo (Awendo).

DRAFT BILL

Kieni MP Kanini Kega has filed a petition at the High Court to stop Opposition leaders from collecting signatures for a national referendum.

Mr Kega argues, through lawyer Kibe Mungai, that the law requires that a draft Bill be drawn up in order to solicit and procure at least one million signatures from registered voters. The case is yet to be heard.

But Mr Obura said: “You only need to be a registered voter and an ID card to register. It does not matter which polling station you were registered.”

He was speaking during the launch of signature collection at Kondele grounds in Kisumu.

Mr Obura asked Deputy President William Ruto to respect Cord leaders.

Mr Neto told the Kieni MP that he would fail in his push to block the Opposition from going on with the petition signature collection.

He criticised Constitution Implementation Commission boss Charles Nyachae for saying it was too early to amend the law.

Mr Opiyo said devolution, which is one of the factors driving the referendum agenda, could not be wasted away.

Mr Ochieng said: “Your participation will enable you have a chance to create laws of good governance, what President Uhuru Kenyatta calls noise is a sound of freedom for our people”.