A new referendum proposal radically wants each party in the presidential contest to involve a team of five people in its ballot paper.
The proposal by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria adds to 13 others made last year seeking to open for surgery of the 2010 Constitution.In his suggestions, Kuria wants the seat of women representatives in the National Assembly removed and nominated positions at the county assembly and senate scrapped.
He also wants senators to serve as county speakers.
Having rubbished the ongoing referendum politics last year, claiming the country should not engage in a referendum meant to “create employment for three old men at the expense of millions of Kenyan youth,” Kuria’s about turn is perpelexing.
In his document to be presented to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), he now supports constitutional changes to create the positions of Prime Minister and leader of opposition and reduce the number of nominated MPs and MCAs.
The raging debate on the change of the 2010 law has been emotive, with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga’s allies in support while Deputy President William Ruto’s team playing a wait-and-see.
Ruto, in declaring his partial support for the referendum, said he would only join the bandwagon if it was meant to ease the burden for Kenyans.“We have no problem with the referendum. Our problem is hypocrisy and conmanship, to tell us the referendum was agreed during the handshake, you are lying to us,” he said.