Cord ally opposes call for constitutional referendum

By Eric Lungai

A Member of the National Assembly who is allied to the Coalition for Restoration of Democracy (Cord) has rubbished the calls for a referendum to amend the constitution.

Hamisi MP Charles Gimose (Federal Party of Kenya) said that a referendum at this time will be so expensive to the Kenyans because it is uncalled for.

He said that the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga cannot be calling for a referendum right now when the constitution is his own brainchild.

“When Raila calls for a referendum now to amend the constitution, it bewilders me because it was his own brainchild,” said Gimose.

He was speaking to journalists at Emuhondo Salvation Army Church in Emuhaya constituency during a fundraising to help build the church.

In the recent public meetings, Raila with his co-principals in Cord have been calling for a referendum saying that some constitutional clauses needed amendment to enable devolution to be effective.

The legislator noted that the referendum may turn tragic to those who think that it is an easy option because the people are tired of pep talks and want to see development being fostered.

“The government cannot manage a referendum now because it is ill-managed and it may turn out not to represent the interests of the people,” he said.

Gimose further said that as legislators, they have to play a role in devolution and that will only happen if they are allowed to run the CDF offices.

He said that the money allocated to CDF is for the MPs to manage and not governors who already have plenty to oversee.

“If everything is taken away from us (MPs), what will be our role then? We better then be nullified and our posts scrapped from the constitution,” he said.

He said their intention to hold on to the CDF offices is not guided by malice, but that people will want to see them working on some development projects.