New force shakes up referendum politics

Kenya: Hall that reunited former reform activists of the 1990s, the rival coalitions clashed about the significance of the development.

Speaking at State House Primary School in Nairobi during a prayer service, President Uhuru Kenyatta said: "Kenya can only have one president at a time. Not two. Nairobi has one Governor and that is Kidero. I accept that. Kenya has one President for now and that's me. People should accept that."

But CORD and ODM leader Raila described as "a partnership for the nation" the reunion with fellow opponents in the 2013 presidential vote, Martha Karua, Peter Kenneth and reform crusaders Pheroze Nowrojee and Richard Leakey, among others.

"He sees it as an indication that the issues that Okoa Kenya has been raising are felt and shared across the nation and are not limited to the political class or to CORD," said Raila's spokesman Denis Onyango.

On Wednesday, Raila told a local TV station that Jubilee's claim that it was too early for a referendum was misplaced. He said worldwide, referendums are held before elections. He also said that the Constitution is four years old and therefore ripe for a review.

ODM's Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said all along CORD had said that the referendum is a Kenyan agenda, and therefore must be bipartisan and must have a national outlook and not a party face.

"When Karua, Kenneth, Leakey, (John) Githongo and others decide to join, they are doing so because they have the interest of Kenya at heart," Junet said.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar added: "Their entry shows not only that the referendum is picking momentum, but is also a testimony that many Kenyans are not satisfied with the way the country is being run. I can tell you that once the referendum question is drafted its only die-hard Jubilee adherents who will be left behind."

"It's a validation of the Okoa Kenya movement. It confirms that the push is neither about Jubilee nor CORD. It is about Keyans protecting devolution, dealing with corruption, getting the face of Kenya in Government. It is a show that referendum move is unstoppable," proclaimed Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga.

But Jubilee leaders alleged a regrouping of individuals who unsuccessfully fought to block President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto from rising to the Presidency were now on a mission to derail the Government. They claimed it was part of the scheme to help Raila to power.

The Jubilee MP claimed CORD even chose Ufungamano, the venue for meetings during the clamour for pluralism, to portray that the freedom struggle is still on.

TNA's Kajiado West MP Moses ole Sakuda captured the feeling in Jubilee saying individuals who fought hard not only to beat Uhuru, but to block him from running for office over the ICC case were now regrouping but he cautioned they will be humiliated once again.

"This was the same coalition that was against the presidency of Uhuru now joined by those he defeated. If they lost in round one, they will still lose in round two because the tyranny of numbers is still relevant," said  Ole Sakuda.

Kiambu Senator Kimani Wa Matangi added: "This is not the right time for a referendum and creating a psyche for another electoral cycle. The choice of Ufungamano was meant to tell Kenyans that the struggle is still on but we want to remind them that what began at Ufungamano and even Bomas was achieved in 2010 and it's now time to implement."

Gichugu MP Njogu Barua said even though Jubilee wished to have the Constitution amended to correct the 20 per cent said to be bad, the timing is mischievous.

"These are losers coming together and some of them like Karua who have been in political oblivion are now seeking relevance," Barua said.

Fafi MP Barre Shill said the regrouping is inconsequential since the Jubilee government won a resounding mandate to govern for five years.

"We don't see any threat to Jubilee and in any case, a referendum will not dislodge Jubilee from power. But it will be unfair to subject the country to a continuous election mood since 2002. We are asking what do they want to achieve?" Shill posed. He cited the 2005 and 2010 referendum held in between the elections.

Yesterday, Jubilee MPs put Karua on the spot during the funeral of former Ndia MP James Kibicho at Kabonge Anglican church in Ndia constituency.

"A referendum is nothing but politics and since we have just come from a general election, we cannot afford to enter into yet another political duel under the guise of a referendum," Laikipia West MP Wachira Karani said.

Kirinyaga Woman Representative Winnnie Karimi added proponents of the referendum should give President Uhuru a chance to discharge his constitutional mandate.

"We only elected the President over a year ago and since referendum is nothing but pure politics, we cannot afford to have one at this point and time," she said.

But Karua responded that the Jubilee leadership had invited the referendum push by ignoring calls for dialogue.

"I asked for the CEO's job of this nation but you declined though I must commend you for having voted me in as the Gichugu MP for a record 20 years. But I must reiterate that if you are holding the top job and you don't talk to others, you are digging your own grave," Karua said.

Wa Matangi told The Standard yesterday: "They not only wholeheartedly campaigned for this Constitution but they voted for it, yet barely after a year, they want to change it even before we implement its first phase. This can only be a coalition of losers in the last polls who can't unite now and seek means of getting to power through the backdoor."

Although the Council of Governors led by Jubilee's Isaac Ruto has also initiated their own referendum, the legislators maintain its only time before they pull out.

"It's only a matter of time before some of our governors withdraw from the referendum push when it becomes it clear that the real intention of CORD is not to strengthen devolution but seek ways of coming back to power," Ole Sakuda added.

"A referendum is a political process which is aimed at creating a new movement and we know that this referendum wants to revive CORD from the Museums and Isaac Ruto wants to help Raila in this agenda," Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said on Sunday.