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There Will be Contested Referendum Unless Tangatanga Surrenders to BBI, Says Raila’s Right-hand Man

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

ODM leader Raila Odinga’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango has dismissed Deputy President William Ruto’s call for a non contested referendum.

Taking to his official Twitter handle on Thursday night, Onyango claimed that the idea that there can be a non Contested referendum exists only in the minds of “cowardly and sly conmen and women”, whom he claimed that are only found in tanga tanga political faction.

According to Dennis Onyango, Tanga tanga only want to have their cake and eat it.

Onyango argued that there will be a Contested referendum unless the political faction allied to DP Ruto surrenders and supports the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) the way it is.

“The idea that there can be a non contested referendum exists only in the minds of cowardly and sly conmen and women in Tangatanga who want to have their cake and eat it. There will be a contested referendum unless Tangatanga surrenders and supports BBI as is, ” tweeted Onyango.

DP Ruto through his official social media handles had said that a non Contested referendum in the country is possible.

The second in command was responding to a headline that had been written by The Standard newspaper, which said “Uhuru, Raila take BBI numbers war to Ruto”.

Ruto in his response said that he loved Kenya enough, never to be part of any wars.

The DP said that there is a real possibility of a win-win consensus ahead of the looming referendum.

According to DP Ruto, an us versus them, and a Yes or No contest is unnecessary since it will lead to a lose-lose outcome.

He urged the leaders pushing for BBI to accept a non-contested referendum.

“I LOVE this country enough NEVER to be part of any ‘war.’Not when there is a real possibility for a WIN-WIN CONSENSUS beckoning. An ‘US vs THEM, ‘YES/NO’ contest that will lead to LOSE-LOSE outcome is UNNECESSARY & UNWARRANTED.A NON-CONTESTED referendum is possible. INAWEZEKANA,” DP Ruto tweeted on Wednesday November 18.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Raila Odinga were to launch the official collection of signatures on Thursday November 19, but the exercise was halted.

The collection of signatures which was to take one week was postponed after President Kenyatta and his Deputy Ruto held a 3-hour meeting at State House.

According to reports, the two agreed to allow some time for dialogue, to correct the gaps that are in the initial BBI report.

Raila had earlier on argued that there is no room to make any changes on the document, claiming that the only changes to be made will be editorial.

With President Kenyatta seemingly having bowed to dialogue pressure from DP Ruto, do you think Ruto’s demands will be accepted on the document, to allow a non Contested referendum?

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Politics

Uhuru Explains Why Changes on Constitution Are Needed, Referendum is a Must

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

President Uhuru Kenyatta has explained why Kenya needs a new constitution.

Speaking at State House during the 57th Madaraka day celebrations on Monday June 1, 2020, the head of state noted that referendum should happen to improve the current 2010 constitution.

The head of state said that the changes on the constitution are not meant to replace the current constitution.

He noted that he is only seeking to correct what Kenya did not achieve and get right in 2010.

He said that Kenya needs a constitution that will bring an end to cycles of violence that the nation has witnessed since 1992, and one that will deepen her democratic credentials and lead to an inclusive society.

“It is not a moment to replace it but to improve it. A moment that will correct what we did not get right in 2010. We need one that will bring an end to cycles of violence that we have witnessed since 1992. One that will deepen our democratic credentials and lead to an inclusive society,” he said.

While emphasizing on the need for constitutional amendments, Uhuru invoked the spirit of the late Tom Mboya

He referenced that the late Mboya cautioned against constitutional rigidity hence the need to make necessary changes that benefit the people.

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Politics

Raila hints at a possible referendum

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has hinted at a possible referendum.

Raila says this will help fix the flaws in the new constitution and make it better for tomorrow and future generations.

He has urged Kenyans to prepare to give views to recommendations by Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) team their report is made public.

The orange party shared Raila’s message via Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

“PL @RailaOdinga hints at a possible referendum to fix the flaws in the new current constitution and make it better for tomorrow and future generations. He told Kenyans to prepare to give views to recommendations by the BBI team once their report is made public,” tweeted ODM.

BBI is expected to present its report anytime from now to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila.

The team was formed after President Kenyatta and Raila’s March 9, 2018 handshake.

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Politics

Inside Ruto allies plot to shoot down Raila’s referendum bill

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Members of Parliament allied to Deputy President Dr William Ruto have vowed to mount a vigorous campaign to shoot down the referendum bill if “it is pushed down the throats of Kenyans.”

According to reports by a local daily, the lawmakers have warned that they have the wherewithal to mount a massive campaign against the public vote which they claimed is “predicated on selfish political interests.”

“We don’t fear a referendum at all. Let them bring it on,” said Soy MP Caleb Kositany, one of the few politicians in Ruto’s coterie. “At the end of the day, we will respect the decision of the majority of Kenyans. Let us meet at the ballot.”

Kandara’s Alice Wahome said Kenyans who voted for Uhuru and Ruto in 2017 are intact and would reject the plebiscite, despite Uhuru joining “the official opposition”.

“We haven’t crossed over and we haven’t changed our minds. We keep promises,” Wahome stated.

She claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Raila Odinga might as well have hatched a plot to destroy Ruto’s 2022 presidential ambitions.

“Nobody fears a referendum at all. What we are opposed to is a referendum that seeks to enable a few people to get power. We already know, for example, who wants to be Prime Minister and the two deputies,” she was quoted by the Star

The controversial MP, however, reminded Uhuru that the Ruto allies were not about to abandon the DP.

The warning shot from the DP’s brigade is the clearest signal yet that Ruto could be weighing his options, including a political duel with his boss.

Such a contest will likely leave him thoroughly bruised as the country’s political bigwigs have closed ranks to support constitutional change.

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Politics

Why Aukot’s referendum push is a win for Ruto, a blow to Uhuru and Raila

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have been pushing for constitutional changes through their Building Brides initiative, but will it be an easy journey?

Well, Thirdway Alliance Party leader Dr Ekuru Aukot is pushing for constitutional changes as well. Whilst President Kenytatta and Raila are pushing for more representation, over representation is Dr Aukot’s major concern.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Thursday approved 1.2 of the 1.4 million signatures which Aukot had presented for scrutiny by the commission.

With the law dictating that a person seeking to implement changes in the constitution present one million signatures, Aukot has cruised past the first section of the test.

Consequently, this exposes the nation to a possible referendum, probably next year, which comes as a blow to Uhuru and Raila, who have been pushing for an expanded government.

Aukot, on the other hand, is pushing to have elective seats reduced.

This will, therefore, force the two to go back to the drawing board to consider other ways of realising their push, putting into consideration that it will be impossible to their referendum bid to materialise with Aukot’s also looming.

Political analyst Herman Manyora claims that Deputy President Dr William Ruto stands to benefit from the referendum push by Dr Aukot.

Through his YouTube channel, Manyora explained that Aukot’s plans go through then the country can’t hold another plebiscite until 2022.

In his opinion, this would frustrate plans by the ODM Party Leader to hold a similar exercise to amend the Constitution. 

“There are those who believe that if this referendum were to be undertaken, not even go through, just to be undertaken then it would make it nearly impossible for any other group, BBI and the handshake included, to bring another referendum to Kenyans before the next election. 

“Therefore Ruto will have scored if the Thirdway Alliance was able to be taken to the people for a vote,” Manyora explained.

He went on to add that skeptics were claiming that the ‘Punguza Mzigo’ initiative would die before it reaches the County Assembly because of the many legal issues surrounding it.

Watch Manyora’s video below:

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Politics

How 6 armed men raided Ekuru Aukot’s office shortly after winning referendum push

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Barely hours after Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) verifying over one million signatures from Dr Ekuru Aukot’s Punguza Mizigo initiative, an armed gang allegedly raided his office in Lavington, Nairobi.

It is alleged that Dr Aukot’s Thirdway Alliance Party Secretary General Fredrick Okang’o was shot and injured in an ugly scene that occurred on Thursday night.

According to Ekuru Aukot, six armed men raided their office and shot Okang’o but fortunately he managed to escape before they took away his life.

“Our party office Thirdway Kenya in Lavington, Chalbi drive has just been invaded by 6 armed men in Nairobi. They have shot at our SG Fredrick Okang’o who ran and hid inside one of the offices. This comes barely few hours after Punguza Mizigo Bill passed. This a cowardly act,” Aukot posted on Twitter.

The motive of the attack is however not yet to be established.

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Politics

Referendum debate takes new twist as Moses Kuria discloses the dates

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

With President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila odinga’s Building Bridges initiative prepare to hand in a final report on the looming referendum, the debate seem to have taken a new twist.

With different leaders in the country giving their own opinions on referendum, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria who is currently running a Team Wanjiku initiative alongside Governor Mike Sonko opines that the next referendum will be held on the 9th August 2022.

According to the controversial MP, this will be alongside the 2022 General Elections as the 7th ballot.

Kuria says people cannot be interrupting Kenyans’ lives in the mid-terms to hold referenda.

Through his facebook page post, Kuria believes people want to change the constitution anytime to suit your whims.

The lawmaker suggests that those interested in changing the constitution should wait for every 5 years to do so.

“I agree we need to remove the 1,000 nominated MCAs, Scrap the women rep positions and remove the Senate? Great. Let’s do it in 2022,” reads part of his post.

He further suggests that in the interim the Country will use parliament for the urgent reforms ahead of 2022.

Among his urgent issues on the referendum is scrapping the senate.

“By the way the most urgent is scrapping the Senate. The main business of the Senate is to add various billions to the governors in the pretence of protecting devolution then turn back and demand the same from governors to protect them from Senate oversight. You will burn in hell,” reads his post.

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