Wiper to collect one million referendum signatures in stronghold
Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka (right), flanked by Ben Momanyi, secretary legal affairs (centre) and party chairman David Musila (left) during a press briefing on July 30, 2014 at the party's secretariat. The Party has cracked the whip and expelled seven members it says failed to follow its rules and regulations. FILE PHOTO | JENNIFER MUIRURI |
Wiper Democratic Movement has set a goal of collecting one million signatures in its backyard in the campaign by Cord to push for a national referendum.
The party announced on Thursday that it will pursue at least one million endorsements in its Ukambani stronghold.
“The party resolved to collect a minimum of one million signatures in its strongholds and called on all Kenyans of goodwill to show up and sign up,” a statement released by the party after its Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting said.
The PG had been called to review strategies on the collection of signatures launched by Cord two weeks ago.
The party has also established a committee, to be headed by Kitui Senator David Musila, to “look into the management of the coalition affairs in Nairobi County and report back in the next PG meeting.”
Wiper is one of the principle members of CORD alongside ODM and Ford-Kenya.
The coalition is on a campaign to collect five million signatures to push for a national referendum.
The grounds for the referendum push include increased revenue and function allocation to the county governments, strengthening of the National Land Commission and reforms on the electoral body.
At least half of the country's 47 county assemblies must endorse the referendum petitionl for it to be moved to the Senate. This means the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) are influential on this push.
“MCAs should not allow themselves to be used by the Jubilee administration or any other person to subvert the will of the people on the proposed referendum.” Wiper said.
