ELDORET, KENYA: Two Jubilee politicians from the North Rift dismissed calls for a national referendum as mooted by Cord luminaries during the Monday's emotive Saba Saba rally at Nairobi's Uhuru Park.
The Jubilee alliance leaders also took on the opposition coalition saying it was inappropriate for them to call for disbandment of the electoral body when most of its leaders were declared election winners by the same commission.
Kipchumba Murkomen, the Senate committee devolution chairman asked the opposition to stop calling for a referendum for no apparent reason.
"Any Kenyan has a constitutional right to call for a referendum. It is unfortunate that the opposition had to hold Kenyan at ransom just to communicate the same message which is not new to the public," said Murkomen.
The Elgeyo Marakwet County Senator wondered why the CORD team led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had to clamor for Saba Saba only to demand for a referendum.
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He said the opposition had failed to table draft amendments which they want to be debated on in the National Assembly.
"We cannot tell what the opposition alliance Cord wants in their plan by collecting a million signatures from Kenyans yet they are not specific on what they want," said Murkomen.
Elijah Lagat, the MP for Chesumei said it was ironical for Cord leaders to call for yet another referendum yet they fronted for the speedy passage of the current constitution in 2010.
"We had called for some amendments in the proposed draft constitution prior to the 2010 national referendum but ODM leaders led by Raila Odinga in the 'Yes' team fronted for speedy passage," said Lagat.
At the same time, Lagat said it is only parliament that can debate issues and determine weather there is any need for a national referendum.
On IEBC, Lagat stated that Cord leaders supported the current Chairman Isaac Hassan after ECK was disbanded prior to the 2013 general elections.
"IEBC monitored the elections that was won by Cord leaders including James Orengo, Anyang Nyongo, and Moses Wetangula among other leaders.
It is only Raila who lost Presidential elections and had he won, he would be supporting the elections body," said Lagat.
