Plebiscite queries to set way forward

Kenya: Referendum questions proposed by CORD and governors could determine whether the two teams will eventually merge and have a joint poll, lawyer Kethi Kilonzo had said.

“If the question is the same, then it might be one referendum,” said Ms Kilonzo, a member of the Committee of Experts spearheading CORD campaign.

CORD and governors have, however, insisted on having separate referendums, which might be costly to taxpayers.

In an interview with The Standard, Kilonzo nonetheless said it is too early to state whether the two teams could join hands.

“Until the questions are posed, it will be hard to tell what the referendums will be about,” she added.

CORD’s Committee of Experts spearheading the campaign said it had isolated four issues which would be incorporated in the draft Bill to be taken to Kenyans to vote for or against during the referendum.

Main issues

The issues include devolution, land reforms, electoral reforms and the question of inclusivity and equality.

Governors, on the other side, have reiterated that they are not teaming up with CORD.

Among the issues raised by the governors, the push for increased county allocation resonates with CORD’s demand and hence the intensified efforts by the Jubilee Government to counter it in the hope it does not gain popular support.

Governors propose to increase allocation to counties from the constitutional minimum of 15 per cent to 45 per cent of the preceding Budget.