Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies warn against costly referendum

Leaders from Mt Kenya region yesterday declared their objection to a political process that will lead the country into a referendum.

Speaking after an hour-long meeting in Embu, the more than 40 legislators rejected calls for a referendum.

They said they had taken a common stand on the issues, even as leaders from other sections of the country supported a plebiscite. The MPs, mostly allied to Deputy President William Ruto, read out a statement that set them firmly in conflict with their counterparts with opposing views.

Just a day earlier, another wing of politicians from the region met in Kirinyaga in a bid to drum up support for a referendum, widely believed to have the blessings of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, the architects of the BBI.

“Our national resources should be spared from a national referendum. We can use the billions for our youth, our coffee, milk, tea, miraa, health and the Big 4 agenda programmes. We must avoid a national process that works against the very primary objective of BBI – the unity of our country,” read a statement presented by Embu Senator Njeru Ndwiga.

“We should avoid a contentious and divisive national process. The BBI must not be used for politics.”

He said if the country must go the referendum route, it must not be based solely on the issues in the BBI report.

“Such a referendum must carry along everyone,” said Ndwiga. The leaders said it would be unnecessary to have another committee of experts on the BBI report.

The declaration furthers the political push and pull in what is quickly shaping up to be a continuation for the battle of the political soul of Central Kenya.

Also present was Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri who said that, only if necessary, a referendum should be conducted together with the 2022 elections. 

Elsewhere, Ruto said the calls for a referendum were a scheme by certain politicians to “sneak” into leadership.

“About 99 per cent of the BBI can be implemented without any difficulty. But there are people who do not want that report to be implemented without dividing Kenyans,” he said.

He spoke at Kangundo Catholic Church in Machakos County where he also opened the Kangundo Medical Training College.

The DP was accompanied by MPs Fabian Muli (Kangundo), Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town) and Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi. Ruto urged leaders to utilise the various government departments, commissions and Parliament to implement the BBI report and avoid the costly path of holding a referendum.

“If, as a country, we are not ready to respect the rule of law and to work with relevant institutions set up by the Constitution, then we will never solve our problems using personalities and tribes,” he said.

Our problems

The leaders said the Embu meeting was self-sponsored and meant to give the region direction on BBI and other political matters.

However, MPs believed to be on Kieleweke side such as Wambugu Ngunjiri did not attend. Others who had sent their apologies seemed to be reading from a different script.

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki and his Meru counterpart Kiraitu Murungi as well as Trade CS Peter Munya said the next constitutional reform process should fully involve and be approved by wananchi.

“We support a people-driven process because we appreciate that MPs are open to manipulation,” said Njuki.

Kiraitu was however a bit cautious, saying they wanted a good understanding by the people to enable them make a choice on how the next phase of the reform process should proceed.

But Munya’s stand was clear.

“Parliament has no absolute powers to amend the Constitution. The national spirit of the 2010 Constitution is that reforms must pass through a referendum,” he said.

[Joseph Muchiri, Erastus Mulwa and Wainaina Ndungu]