Governors withdrawal will not weaken referendum push, Raila Odinga says

ODM leader Raila Odinga during a press conference at Capitol Hill Square in Nairobi on August 20, 2014. Mr Odinga and other Cord leaders said Mr Nkaissery was wrong to ban the planned demonstration since residents had made their plans known in advance. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Odinga will launch the exercise in Migori while Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula will spearhead the drive in Western Kenya.
  • Kenyans hold the key top say yes or no to amendments.

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leader Raila Odinga has said the withdrawal of support for a referendum by some governors allied to the Jubilee Alliance will not weaken the Okoa Kenya Movement.

Mr Odinga said Kenyans are key to the referendum as they are the ones who will vote.

“It is for Kenyans to decide whether they want to amend this constitution. This is not an issue to be decided by certain leaders of some political parties,” he said Friday during the launch of an office for the Okoa Kenya Movement in Nairobi.

SEARCH FOR SIGNATURES

He added: “Governors who are pulling out are pulling out as individuals. They are not pulling out on behalf of the people. In any case, each one of them will only have one vote.”

Mr Odinga said Cord will launch a drive to gather signatures from Kenyans in different parts of the country to push for a referendum.

He said the search for signatures will be countrywide and not restricted to Cord strongholds.

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