Raila vows to press on with push for referendum despite threats

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga has vowed to continue with the Okoa Kenya referendum push.

Raila said no amount of threats or intimidation will make him back down from the push to amend the Constitution to increase funds to counties and electoral reforms among others.

Okoa Kenya team led by CORD leader Raila Odinga (right) and Siaya Senator James Orengo during a meeting in Kisumu County with MCAs from six counties yesterday. (PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/ STANDARD)

He said devolution and the referendum push have many enemies, who do not want to see Kenya achieve what its citizens yearn for.

“Devolution has many powerful enemies and I am sure what we are proposing will be met with opposition from some quarters. But nothing can stop an idea whose time has come as the message is very powerful,” said the former premier.

Raila cited the killing of former chairman of the Devolution Committee during the Constitution review process, Odhiambo Mbai. as one of the setbacks the Constitution review had come across. He described Mbai as a good expert that enemies of devolution targeted.

He stated that the Constitution, which was passed on August 27, 2010, was not perfect.

He said the problems Kenyans are facing today would have been solved in a by-partisan manner had the Jubilee government heeded to their national dialogue call.

“We would have dealt with a number of issues we are raising but the Government thought we were interested in “Nusu mkate”,” said Raila, adding that it was because of the State’s dismissal that they conceived the referendum push through popular initiative at the 2014 Saba Saba rally.

He revealed they had earlier through the Bomas conference pushed for only 15 counties, but the “enemies” of devolution settled for 47 smaller units, which could not have full autonomy that could easily be controlled from the central government. He called on Kenyans to support the Okoa Kenya initiative as it promises a number of solutions to the problems troubling counties.

He expressed disappointment in the way taxes are collected uniformly across the country, yet only few officers sit down to allocate funds to all departments at their own will. “When you look at National Youth Service and the Eurobond saga, you will agree that the country really needs salvation,” said the CORD leader.

The former premier acknowledged the other referendum initiatives such as “Boresha maisha” and the governors’ Pesa Mashinani, stating that it was good other players have noticed that Kenya in deed needs salvation.

Speaking during a meeting between Okoa Kenya Secretariat and county assembly members drawn from Nyanza and Western regions in Kisumu, Raila stated that sensitising MCAs on the process and making them understand the Okoa Kenya Referendum Bill was necessary. This was the first cluster of  Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Kisii, Siaya and Kakamega county assemblies.

 Release bill

The Okoa Kenya Secretariat is targeting county assembly members to woo people on the ground as a way of popularising the initiative.

Raila said the Okoa Kenya team will be meeting county assembly members from Western region in Kitale, then Kajiado and Narok.

In the same forum, the County Assemblies leaders’ forum asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to expedite the process of verification of the signatures and to release the bill to the county assemblies within the 90 days stipulated in the Constitution.

In a statement read by Nyamira Speaker Joash Nyamoko, the assemblies from the region resolved that they would support the referendum bill and resoundingly pass it when it is represented by the IEBC to the county assemblies.

They also called for funding of the drive, which they termed their right.

“The right to amend the Constitution by popular initiative is a constitutional right and the national government is under obligation to provide necessary funding,” said Nyamoko.

He stated that the Government should immediately release funds meant for voter registration required by IEBC to enable eligible voters have the crucial document ahead of the referendum.

The forum expressed solidarity with other Kenyans on their continued demand for accountability and prudent use of taxes.

“We applaud them for demanding that the President reduces his appetite for extravagant frequent travels,” said Nyamoko.

Siaya Senator James Orengo said there was need to ensure that all the 47 counties are well versed with contents of the bill for them to own the process.

“Despite the tyranny of numbers in both Houses, the Okoa Kenya draft will advance to the public that will then accept or reject the Constitution amendments by means of popular vote. We therefore appeal to the MCAs to be our ambassadors,” said the senator.

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma said the initiative is important to all governors despite their political alignment and it was getting an overwhelming support throughout the country. The forum was graced by governors Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Senators Peter Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu) and Elizabth Ongoro among some MPs.