Multiple calls for referendum likely to ignite early campaigns
Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (left) and Mutula Kilonzo Jr. The Senate has authorised county assemblies to spend an additional Sh3 billion in a suspect move likely to escalate its supremacy battle with the National Assembly. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |
What you need to know:
- The Senate’s move brings to three the number of referendums whose proponents claim aim at strengthening devolution.
- It is highly unlikely that Jubilee senators would support a referendum against the wishes of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The country could be plunged into a full-scale political campaign after senators this week joined the referendum quest following an acrimonious fallout with members of the National Assembly.
The Senate formed a steering committee under Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, which has evoked debate about the honesty of the increasing group of politicians pushing for a referendum to change the Constitution.
Some observers reckon that the latest clamour to make Senate the upper House after failing to secure Sh1 billion in the current financial year makes nonsense of a referendum.
Other members of the steering committee charged with crafting a Bill to increase powers of the Senate are Billow Kerrow (Mandera), James Orengo (Siaya, ODM), Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni, Wiper), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega, UDF) and Muriuki Karue (Nyandarua, TNA).
The Senate’s move brings to three the number of referendums whose proponents claim aim at strengthening devolution.
Cord was the first to come up with the Okoa Kenya referendum push one year ago although it is yet to hand over the requisite one million signatures to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
WITHDRAW SUPPORT
Governors then joined the fray with their Pesa Mashinani call that has seen little activity in the recent past.
But it is highly unlikely that Jubilee senators would support a referendum against the wishes of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Mr Kenyatta has in the past prevailed upon his members to withdraw their support both for the Pesa Mashinani as well the one mooted by a group of senators like Mr Murkomen and Tharaka-Nithi’s Kithure Kindiki in 2013.
It remains to be seen if they will budge this time round amid reports that a State House meeting between President Kenyatta scheduled for Tuesday failed.
Mr Murkomen insists: “Even if it is rejected by the National Assembly, this will have no effect. We will approach each stage at a time,” he told the Sunday Nation.
Jubilee Alliance Party vice-chairman David Murathe, a close ally of Mr Kenyatta, has hinted at what could be the thinking in the corridors of power on the senators’ quest.
“The whole idea of constantly putting the country on campaign mode is wrong,” Mr Murathe told Sunday Nation.
Amani Coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi has dismissed Okoa Kenya as “a mere talking point” for leaders who because they are not in government or Parliament, want to stay relevant.
Like Dr Khalwale, Senator Kerrow said they would be seeking to have a role in vetting senior government appointees as well as scrutinising laws passed by the National Assembly as part of quality control.
“We have just set a team but the main issue is no doubt strengthening devolution and oversight function of the Senate. The practice world over is to have a Senate that vets senior state appointees but also looks at laws coming from the lower House,” he said.
