TNA governors quit push for referendum

TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja (centre) speaks to the press shortly after holding a closed-door meeting at Weston Hotel on August 20, 2104. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja and secretary-general Onyango Oloo, who had the President’s blessings, said they were exploring legal options which they would use to stop the two-pronged referendum push by the Council of Governors and Cord.
  • President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto have opposed both campaigns for a referendum, saying they were ill-timed and the issues at play could be solved in Parliament.

Governors affiliated to the Jubilee Coalition Wednesday started withdrawing their support for the referendum push by their council, dealing a big blow to the campaign.

The decision by some of the governors elected on The National Alliance (TNA), who apparently were yielding to pressure from President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, came as Mr Peter Kenneth, a presidential candidate in the last elections, denied supporting the Okoa Kenya campaign for a referendum led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The governors started to troop back to the President’s camp during a meeting called by the TNA party in a Nairobi hotel. The meeting was also attended by MPs and Members of County Assemblies.

TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja and secretary-general Onyango Oloo, who had the President’s blessings, said they were exploring legal options which they would use to stop the two-pronged referendum push by the Council of Governors and Cord.

“We shall use our strength in Parliament to craft some laws that will address the issues raised by the governors. We shall involve all our coalition partners and like-minded MPs,” said Mr Oloo.

Governors William Kabogo (Kiambu), Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a), Daniel Waithaka ( Nyandarua), Joseph Ndathi (Kirinyaga), Nyaga Wambora (Embu), Samuel Ragwa (Tharaka Nithi) and Kinuthia Mbugua (Nakuru) attended the meeting.

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu and his Nyeri counterpart Nderitu Gachagua, who has been vocal in supporting the referendum, supported the withdrawal from the initiative by the Council of Governors.

“We support more money at the grassroots, but the timing of the referendum has been hijacked by the Opposition. We will not support it,” said Mr Kabogo.

The governors said they had not “bowed  to pressure from their supporters” but had just chosen a cheaper and more peaceful route to address their problems.

Mr Mwangi (wa Iria) said they had backed off because a referendum was just one of the routes to allocation of more money to counties.

“A referendum is actually the last option. We shall exhaust the legal channels and we are happy the MPs have promised to support this.”

Mr Mbugua, who later spoke to the Nation said: “I have never been part of the push (for referendum) by my colleagues. My support for President Kenyatta and TNA has never wavered.”

Fears that the animosity that has played out between governors and MPs could derail this resolution were played down by Mr Sakaja, who declared: “On this one, we have agreed to work together.”

ISOLATE MARTHA KARUA

Several of the more than 50 MPs present said it would be risky to have the referendum as its outcome was unknown. MPs who spoke, including Mr Joseph Eruaki (Igembe North), Kathuri Murungi (Imenti South), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) and J.M. Waiganjo (Ol Joro Orok), said the move would allow leaders deliver to their electorate.

Wednesday’s move by the TNA party could further isolate 2013 presidential election loser Martha Karua, who has supported the referendum, in the Mt Kenya region.

President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto have opposed both campaigns for a referendum, saying they were ill-timed and the issues at play could be solved in Parliament.

They have warned governors in the Jubilee Coalition against taking sides in the referendum campaigns.

At Blue Posts Hotel in Thika, Mr Kenneth, the Kenya National Congress presidential candidate in the March 4, 2013 elections, refuted media reports associating him with Okoa Kenya Campaign for the referendum, saying it was mere speculation.

 “Some people want to drive a wedge between me and President Kenyatta yet we are close friends despite our political affiliation,” he said. Contacted, Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto downplayed the effect of the withdrawals to the push for the referendum, saying they would soldier on.

“It was expected. There will be pressure, intimidation and cajoling. We expect more threats and the push for the referendum will continue,” he said by phone.

He said some governors in central Kenya and Rift Valley were expected to cave in to pressure.

“This doesn’t dissuade us from proceeding. People from those regions want more money to counties and once we succeed, they will celebrate. We cannot abandon a just cause because of geopolitical issues,” he said.

Reports by Billy Muiruri, Oliver Musembi, Eric Wainaina and Francis Mureithi