Will Kenyans go to a Referendum?
For the better part of this year since the now famous handshake, talks of a referendum to change the constitution have taken center stage. These are talks that have actually divided the country in the middle with a section of Kenyans supporting it while others have opposed it.
The proposing side is being led by Opposition chief Raila Odinga while those Opposed to it are being led by DP William Ruto.
One person that had not given his stand with regards to the issue is Presient Uhuru Kenyatta. The President seem to have now grown tired of keeping Kenyans guessing on his stand.
Speaking in Kisumu yesterday, the President gave the clearest signal yet that the country could be headed for a referendum to scrap what he termed a destructive “winner-takes-all” system of government.
Uhuru said the current presidential system was unfairly excluding some communities from leadership.
The President said it was necessary to have a government structure that accommodates even election losers to prevent the bitterness among Kenyans that has triggered post-poll violence.
“We said we must look at this issue of winner takes all. If that is why some people feel left out of government, we must ask ourselves, ‘Is is a good thing or not’,”
The President acknowledged that the presidential system had weaknesses that needed solutions.
This was the first major hint by the head of state of possible amendments to the Constitution to introduce an alternative system of government ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Uhuru’s remarks came just days after a leaked internal paper by Raila’s ODM Party revealed that the ex-Prime Minister was pushing for radical amendments, including a Parliamentary-type system of government.
Raila’s think tanks also favour a three-tier system of government with 14 regional governments.
Deputy President William Ruto, who was present during the Kisumu visit, has strongly opposed any law change and the President’s hint is likely to put him in a tight corner. He wants to be President in 2022.
Do you think the scrapping off of the Presidential System of Governance will help solve Kenya’s leadership crisis?