Kieni MP Kanini Kega in court to block Cord's referendum push

Cord leader Raila Odinga at Kadika SDA Church in Migori county at the launch of the Okoa Kenya campaign to collect 5 million signatures needed to call for a national referendum. PHOTO | DENISH OCHIENG

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

Mr Kega argues that Cord leaders have not met the necessary conditions set under the law for the process of holding a referendum.

The legislator, through lawyer Kibe Mungai, argues that Cord leaders are required to first formulate a draft Bill that would give them the mandate to solicit and procure at least one million signatures from registered voters to support the initiative to amend the Constitution.

“The petitioner contends that under Article 257(4) of the Constitution, the existence of a draft bill is a condition precedent for solicitation and procurement of the signatures to support a popular initiative to amend the constitution,” said lawyer Mungai.

Mr Kega has sued the Okoa Kenya Movement, Orange Democratic Movement, Wiper Democratic Movement Kenya and Ford Kenya party.

The other respondents include the Constitutional Implementation Commission (CIC), the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Attorney General.