Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya during a media briefing at his office on the quality and safety of sugar and other imported products on August 22, 2018. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • CS calls for talks on what should be amended and when the referendum should take place
  • He says reducing the size of government will free up funds for development
  • Munya hints at running for political seat in 2022

Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has waded into the referendum debate, saying the time is ripe to amend the Constitution to reduce the cost of running the government.

Speaking in Meru on Monday during the burial of his friend M’Iringo M’Imathiu, Mr Munya said there is need to amend 20 per cent of the Constitution which the "No" camp pointed out eight years ago.

Mr Munya called for talks on what should be amended and when the referendum should take place. “Though I am not in politics, I believe constitutional amendment is not a politicians’ only affair. I back the referendum calls, so that we can reduce the size of the government. This will release funds for development. We need to reduce the heavy burden,” said Mr Munya.

He said the referendum should also address the conflicts brought about by the elections every five years.

POLITICAL COMEBACK

The CS also urged politicians to tone down rhetoric and focus on the implementation of the Big Four agenda.

This is after Meru assembly minority leader Ayub Bundi said they were keen on supporting Mr Munya’s political comeback in 2022.

“You can all recall that my handshake with the President, though not very high profile, was the first. This is why I am concentrating on building bridges even here in Meru. We will talk about politics when that time comes. I am yet to decide which position I will go for in 2022 because it is not a must that I vie anyway,” he said.

Mr Munya said his ministry is keen on boosting production and value addition of Irish potatoes in partnership with Irish government.

“Manufacturing and food security are part of the Big Four agenda that we are now focused on as a government. My recent visit to Ireland was part of our efforts to look into how we can increase potato production, storage and value addition,” he said.