Some political leaders and lobby groups have urged that referendum is not a priority for tis country because what Kenyans need right now is to have the cost of living lowered.
Referendum push by the NASA leader Raila Odinga has faced many resistance the latest group to oppose the move are youths from Kisumu have moved to court to stop referendum push
Through their lawyer Ken Amondi, Sumawe Youth group wants the High Court in Kisumu to stop the electoral commission from conducting any referendum in the country, until the matter is heard and determined.
However Justice Fred Ochieng, declined to certify the case as urgent but he set November 20, 2018 as the mention day of the matter.
The group were ordered to serve the two respondents. In the petition, the petitioners argued that the law is silent on a number of issues that have been raised by Kenyans.
Omondi says the law does not clarify on whether changes or reduction in size of offices of the county government and national government require respective amendments to the Constitution by way of referendum or not.
The group also want clarity in terms of the kind of questions that must go to a referendum and which amendments can be done by the parliamentarians in exercise of the sovereign authority delegated to them by the constitution.
Some of the Jubilee legislatures had warned that the calls for a referendum may disrupt the development agenda of the country.
Led by Governors Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu), Gabriel Kago (Githunguri), Simon King’ara (Ruiru), Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu) and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) said the priority for the country is the implementation of the Big Four Agenda.
“We must dismiss all manner of politicking that is not of benefit to Kenyans. If we must do politics, let it be about development,” said Mr Ichungwa.
According to him, calls for a referendum are meant to distract the government’s development efforts.
The former Presidential candidate Ekuru Aukot said Raila intends to create top leadership positions for the Nasa co-principals.
He said his party, the Third Way Alliance, kick started the push based on seven pillars with an intention of lowering the cost of living by reducing the wage bill.
“This is one of the agenda of building bridges so that the Nasa co-principals get powerful positions in government. I’m yet to comprehend Raila’s intention of calling for referendum,” Aukot said.
“What exactly is Raila pushing for in the first place? He just wants to be included in government.”
Hon. Raila Odinga is the brain behind referendum in Kenya do you think he will continue with the push after landing a new job?