ANC chief Musalia Mudavadi who has been slowly winning Mt Kenya region souls has revealed a major hint on referendum, which could see deputy President William Ruto’s strategy towards 2022 fail. Mudavadi on Monday said leaders have agreed on a referendum and that only the questions to be put in the vote remain.
Speaking at his Nairobi home where he hosted last year’s election losers from Mt Kenya region, Mudavadi called for dialogue to build consensus.
“Developing consensus through dialogue means that the impending referendum will not be contested in ways that will polarise the country,” Mudavadi said. Mudavadi had previously opposed the constitutional change call, saying it had been hijacked by politicians with selfish interests.
Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta hinted the referendum may be necessary to promote inclusivity and cohesion.
Mudavadi said people should not read to much into his meeting with the politicians. ‘’I know Kenyans will perceive this to be matters of succession politics, but we are not here to discuss politics, but matters of national interest,” he said.
Among the constitutional changes aimed by referendum is the reduction of representations in the government which my see some positions such as MCA posts and Women representatives scrapped.
President Kenyatta had also hinted that referendum might be necessary to do away with “winners take all” culture. He had also hinted that the current Presidential system does not favour some communities.
This means that if referendum is to be carried out, the current Presidential system might be done away with, whereby a new system will have to be introduced. This might result in creation of some new posts such as that of a prime minister. In this case, the presidential candidates might not be on the ballot. Kenyans might just elect legislators who will later hold sittings to produce a president. If this is to happen, it will cost DP Ruto who is currently concentrated on 2022 presidential seat.