Raila Odinga digs in for fresh fight with Uhuru Kenyatta on referendum

[Ab-Titchaz]

Raila Odinga digs in for fresh tussle with Uhuru Kenyatta

By Standard Team

Kenya: The CORD coalition's determination to amend the Constitution to give more power to counties and end the tyranny of numbers in presidential elections has set it up for a major tussle with the ruling Jubilee alliance.

CORD co-principal and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga heads to Kwale, Mombasa and Taveta for public rallies seen as a move to water down the effects of Deputy President William Ruto's weekend tour of the area.

Raila is expected to drum up support for the amendments that President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee government is opposed to. The region overwhelmingly voted for CORD in this year's General Election.

The clamour by CORD for a review of the Constitution to replace the presidential system of government with a parliamentary one has lit the fuse in this latest contest.

Jubilee leaders have accused Raila of looking for ways to stir up another political contest after the March 4 ruling that confirmed Kenyatta as President.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale even claimed that CORD was instigating the crusade by governors for a constitutional referendum under the guise of devolution.

It emerged that CORD leaders plan a series of public rallies to sell the proposal to amend the Constitution in favour of a parliamentary system of government.

During Ruto's tour of Kwale, Mombasa and Taveta, a section of leaders elected on the CORD ticket resolved to back the Government.

Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama said that after marketing the proposal they would collect the two million signatures needed to force a referendum. "We don't want to go to Parliament," Muthama added, apparently alive to the fact that the Jubilee Coalition commands majority in both Houses.

Constitutional overhaul

The Wiper Senator said the parliamentary system of Government is desirable to check the "tyranny of numbers" domination.

Muthama explained that CORD's proposal is for an electoral college of 431 senators, governors and women representatives from 47 counties, and the 290 MPs to elect the President who will have to secure a 50 per cent plus one vote.

Some, however, argued that this would be tantamount to overhauling the Constitution because it would interfere with other sections of the supreme law. Jubilee leaders countered it was yet another scheme by Raila to seek power.

"He was at the forefront with (former President) Kibaki campaigning for the new Constitution. Kenyans overwhelmingly voted for the presidential system of Government," Duale said. "Just because he lost in the elections he now wants to try his luck through the parliamentary system. He should wait for the next elections in 2017," Duale added.

Suba MP John Mbadi, however, alleged that Raila was pushed to accept a presidential system of Government since the proposed constitution was better than the Independence one.

"The presidential system is not good and it is important that we amend the Constitution this early. After all, 90 per cent of the Commonwealth is governed by the parliamentary systems" Mbadi said.

But TNA nominated MP Johnstone Sakaja said Raila was looking for an opportunity for another contest with the Jubilee coalition.

"It is very clear that Raila has not accepted that he lost the last General Election and he is now looking for a way to fight another political battle with President Uhuru Kenyatta. He should know that Kenyans are not fools and they will still hand him a defeat in a referendum," Sakaja said
.
Duale claimed CORD was instigating the governors' push for a constitutional referendum under the guise of devolution.

"We have told our (Jubilee) colleagues including Isaac Ruto that CORD is playing politics and they should also come clean on their agenda," he added.

CORD's Deputy Whip in the Senate Janet Ong'era supported the calls by Raila saying it is in the spirit of constitutional reforms.

Ong'era said the parliamentary system is the only realistic way of ending the divisive politics that play out in every election, and ensure minorities also have a chance at leadership.

"The parliamentary system is what was initially in the draft Constitution, but that was changed by greedy people whose interest is only to use their ethnic backing to claim power. It is time that we addressed that," said Ong'era.

Personal convenience
"The threat of tyranny of numbers is evident for Kenyans to see. That is why we want the electorate to face the ballot and decide on whether this is how they want to be led, or through a parliamentary system that would give equal chance to all Kenyans to lead," said Ong'era.

But Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen questioned the timing of Raila's calls, saying that the former PM was only seeking amendments to satisfy short-term goals for personal convenience.

Sakaja added: "It would be difficult for Raila to convince voters that the Presidential system is bad yet he campaigned for adoption of the new constitution."

ODM Executive Director Magerer Langat said there was nothing wrong with pushing for an amendment of the Constitution. "Cord has a right to pinpoint areas in the Constitution that need to be repealed, and it should not be taken that it is an agenda propelled by Raila, but a collective position of the coalition," Magerer said.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Raila Odinga digs in for fresh tussle with Uhuru Kenyatta

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

HOW RAILA PLANS TO END 'TYRANNY OF NUMBERS'

Tuesday, August 13, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY FRANCIS MUREITHI

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Cord colleagues want the constitution amended to bring an end to the situation where one ethnic community can dominate politics by its numbers.

Yesterday Cord leaders were expected to meet with governors to finalise their plans to push for the amendment of the constitution which can only be done through a referendum. The governors have for several weeks been consulting to change the constitution to give them more powers.

Cord leaders now want to introduce their own proposal so that they can push for one referendum to decide on the two issues. The Cord proposal seeks to abolish the current presidential system and replace it with a parliamentary system to resolve what has come to be known as the ‘tyranny of numbers'.

Raila and other Cord leaders are proposing bringing an end to the direct election of the president through a popular vote. Instead they want MPs to elect the president. Currently the constitution says for one to be declared president he must get 50 per cent plus one vote of the popular vote.

"We want a situation where every small community in Kenya plays a meaningful part in deciding the country's leadership," said a senior member of the Cord coalition. If passed by this Parliament, the amendments will only come to effect after the 2017 general election. "We are not in a hurry to say so and so should step down as long as we have the constitutional amendment by 2017.

Our target is article 138 of the constitution," said Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama. The section deals with the procedure for the election of a president, who participates in such an election, how it is conducted, the minimum percentage of votes such a candidate needs to get to be declared president and also under what circumstances a presidential election can be cancelled and a new election held.

"We need to move out of this tyranny of numbers system which is a source of ethnicity in the country and we move to a system that will bring unity in the country," added Muthama. According to the constitutional amendment Bill which is presently being drafted, Chapter 9 on Executive will be amended to provide that the leader of the political party or coalition of parties that garners majority of votes in a general election is automatically declared the president.

All votes cast in an election including those of the county representatives, women's representatives, governors, MPs and senators will be added together.

HOW RAILA PLANS TO END 'TYRANNY OF NUMBERS' | The Star

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Parties split over push for vote

PHOTO | FILE The chairman of the governors council Isaac Rutto and Nairobi county boss Evans Kidero at a recent press conference. Governors are calling for a referendum on devolution.

By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Tuesday, August 13 2013 at 23:30

In Summary

• Cord insists that referendum meant to change system to parliamentary

The proposed referendum intended to empower the Senate and county governments took another political turn on Tuesday when a key Jubilee governor accused Cord of trying to hijack the initiative.

The chairman of governor's council, Mr Isaac Rutto, asked Cord leaders to keep off the referendum aimed at amending the Constitution to strengthen the Senate and increase the amount of money set aside for counties beyond the current 15 per cent of the budget.

Cord on the other hand have indicated that it will push for a vote to change the Constitution and change the system of governance from a presidential to a parliamentary system. In what is proposed by Cord, the Head of Government will be elected by Parliament.

But Mr Rutto said the referendum was the brainchild of governors who would not relinquish it to political groupings "fighting for their own survival''.

"The referendum is my baby. I will not allow anybody to take it. We are not going to a referendum for political reasons. We want to create structures that will safeguard and support devolution," he said on phone.

His strong statement comes hot on the heels of a declaration by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga that Cord would push for a referendum to amend the Constitution to make it possible for devolution to thrive. The referendum, he said at the weekend, should be held before the next elections.

ODM position

He warned that county governments would not survive if some sections of the Constitution were not amended to make them amenable to devolution.

"Devolution is key to the economic prosperity of this nation. However, there are some constitutional articles which are a deterrent to effective implementation of the process, hence a referendum is the only way to go," he said.

Mr Rutto has himself come under fire from his United Republican Party wing of the Jubilee coalition for driving the referendum push, which is seen in Jubilee as an effort to undermine North Rift political supremo, Deputy President William Ruto.

The Cord support for a referendum, however, goes beyond the initial proposals by the Senate and the Governor's council, with proponents saying they will do away with the present system where the President is elected by popular vote to be replaced by a parliamentary system.

"MPs say they want to question ministers in the House which means they want them to be MPs," said Prof Larry Gumbe, who is a member of the ODM think tank. Prof Gumbe said they wanted MPs to elect the president.

"This is how (the late President Jomo) Kenyatta was elected as the first president of Kenya. It was also what the defunct NDP proposed," he said. The party was then led by the former PM, who vied for president in 1997 and then advocated for a parliamentary system.

Parties split over push for vote - Politics - nation.co.ke

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Former PM Raila Odinga gives President Uhuru Kenyatta notice on referendum

Updated Wednesday, August 14th 2013 at 22:42 GMT +3

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Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (centre) with Senator Dan Mwazo and Governor John Mruttu in Taita Taveta, Wednesday. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD][/TD]
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By STANDARD TEAM



KENYA: CORD co-principal Raila Odinga has given the Jubilee Alliance one month to meet his coalition over plans for a referendum to amend the Constitution.

But even as the former Prime Minister issued the ultimatum, President Uhuru Kenyatta scoffed at CORD’s push for a Constitutional review on the day the opposition alliance led by Raila, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula launched campaigns for the referendum vote.

Uhuru cautioned that referendum politics would be disruptive and premature, coming soon after the contested March 4 presidential vote, as Raila announced the opposition had given the Government one-month to agree on referendum road map.

CORD has backed the governors’ crusade for a constitutional amendment to increase the allocation to counties and is rooting for another review to replace the presidential system of government with a parliamentary one. “We campaigned and the leaders were elected. Kenyans should now be left to work and leaders to serve. Where were they when the Constitution was being passed?” President Uhuru posed, apparently referring to CORD leaders who campaigned for the new Constitution while serving as part of the grand coalition Government.

The Head of State spoke during the official opening of the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) Women Council Conference at the proposed Theological college grounds in Kamulu, Nairobi yesterday.

But Raila, who was accompanied by his co-principal, Moses Wetangula, chose Coast that voted overwhelmingly for CORD to step up the pressure on President Uhuru’s regime.

Raila said CORD leaders were ready to meet with like-minded legislators in the ruling Jubilee Alliance to work out the way forward for a referendum.

Kenyans support

“We are giving the Government one month to meet us to decide on the way forward to the referendum. If the Jubilee government accepts to meet us its fine, and if it does not accept then we will move forward to implement the referendum as we have the support of Kenyans,” Raila in Taveta Town.

Among those who accompanied the former premier were senators Dan Mwazo, Johnstone Muthama, Otieno Kajwang, and James Orengo. Others included MPs
Thomas Mwadeghu, Jones Mlolwa, Adrew Mwadime, Chris Wamalwa, Taita-Taveta Governor John Mruttu, Speaker of the County Assembly Meshack Maghanga and several county representatives. The former PM said the opposition was pushing for the Constitutional referendum because majority of Kenyans preferred a parliamentary system of government to the current presidential one.

“The Government does not understand the benefits of devolution and that is why its leadership is opposed to it. They are the major beneficiaries of the centralised system of government and are not ready to allow devolution,” said Raila.

“The problem with the Government is that it does not want to bring money to the county governments and that is why we are going round meeting Kenyans to decide the future destiny of the country,” he added.

“Kenyans voted overwhelmingly to the new Constitution and we want them to enjoy the fruits of supporting the document. As CORD we want the current revenue allocation raised from 15 per cent to 40 per cent,” Raila added. Wetangula accused the Government of failing to distribute resources equally to Kenyans, claiming the current Cabinet and Principal Secretaries were skewed in favour of certain communities.

“The Government has failed to adhere to the contents of the Constitution. It is discriminating against areas that voted for CORD in appointments, and this is wrong for unity and integration of the country,” said the Bungoma Senate.

But as the CORD brigade ratcheted up the pressure on the regime, Senators allied to Jubilee warned they would drop out of the campaign for the Constitutional referendum if the opposition exploits it to undermine President Uhuru’s Administration.

The Jubilee Senate leadership accused Raila of seeking to hijack the push for a Constitutional amendment to further his selfish political agenda. The Senators said they will not allow the Cord leader to make political capital out of the “noble” process they initiated to protect devolution.

Political mileage

Led by Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki, the MPs said they would rather drop the referendum campaign than allow it give Raila and his group political mileage.

The Jubilee Senators said Raila and his supporters were free to champion their Constitutional amendment to install a parliamentary system, but should not ride on the Senate initiative. “We will not allow people to ride on the Senate to advance their parochial interests. We are afraid that our noble process, which had a bi-partisan approach as it is meant to strengthen the Senate and protect devolution, has now been hijacked by elements furthering their agenda,” said Prof Kindiki.

He added: “We have heard people going round the country telling Kenyans that they are bringing their amendments together with the Senate, but we are urging them to sell their agenda independently.”

CORD leaders started public rallies to advocate for the review of the Constitution, the latest source of friction with the Jubilee Alliance.

“We want to caution those who want to win mileage and make political capital out of the process that they will not ride on our noble process,” said Prof Kindiki.

The chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Devolution Kipchumba Murkomen, said that while the Senate will soldier on with its referendum agenda, it would resist games of those who want to use the idea to resuscitate their political careers.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Former PM Raila Odinga gives President Uhuru Kenyatta notice on referendum

 

[Jammu Africa]

Yesterday Cord leaders were expected to meet with governors to finalise their plans to push for the amendment of the constitution which can only be done through a referendum

Unless,,he is talking about governors from CORD side:smile-big:

The chairman of governor's council, Mr Isaac Rutto, asked Cord leaders to keep off the referendum aimed at amending the Constitution to strengthen the Senate and,,,,,,,

"The referendum is my baby. I will not allow anybody to take it. We are not going to a referendum for political reasons" said Isac Ruto,chairman of governors' council.

Ha ha ha he he,,,,,ho ho ho ho,,mr Raila,,,things are,,,,,elephant.🙂Go and talk to people
on your side and leave Jubilee people,,alone.

Raila is going round the clock,,,we start as,,small children,,teenage,,mature old and,,,:smile-big:
back,,like small children where you see an old man or women behaving like a child.

Raila is this big kid,,,who is crying for everything,,,you give him this,,he
wants that.

Some one,, in a private letter to me,,in this forum,, asked me,,,wachukia
Raila kwa lip??

It because of this type of behaviour,,yaani,,kigeugeu,,bila hata ya kuona,,
haibu, hata kidogo,,that is why most of us will never show any kind
of respect,,towards,,him,,,for you have to respect yourself before
expecting others to do the same to you.



Just some months ago,,,,he was saying,,on his campaigns tours,,,that the best
he has ever done for this country,,is the making of the new constitution.

But,,after loosing the presidential race,,,,he wants,,the constitution,,changed:smile-big:

Oh my my,,,,haki ya mungu,,,tumefunganishwa na watu bure,,kabisa. It is
very hard,,,to make any meaningful step,,with these types of human being.

But one thing,,,we will try to keep up with them,,,what else can we do.

Let's play their childish game,,and pray,,that..everything,,ends well.

But one thing,,i will swear with my life,,,is that,,,Raila is kwisha,,,he
will never become the president of this country.

His best chance was,,2013,,,,but got very drunk and messed up,,
everything,,and blamed,,everything,,around,,

You can change the rules of the game,,,but you cannot change
yourself.

If you are a looser,,,you remain a looser.

Raila is 68 years old,,,,he he he he,,like his father,,,,lako haliko,,,
mzee,,sahau and you forget,,,Kenya si mali yako.:wave:kutupeleka
kule unataka.

 

[Jammu Africa]

After making useless tours,,around the world,,meeting nobodies,,,he thinks he
has an idea,,, he he he he,,everybody is very suprised,,even people from his
side.

And,,another thing,,,

WHO GOING TO CONDUCT THE REFERENDUM,,,IEBC??????🙂

The same one which stole,,your,,presidency,,,,come on,,
people,,,,be serious with your,,lives,,for you are not
serious in what you say:smile-big:🙂:smile-big:

It is a show time,,,come on mr Raila,,,show them who
is the real and selfish Raila.

Raila son of Jaramogi Odinga who whose greatest wish
was to become the president of this country,,even for
five (5) minutes but who never was.:disapointed:

Your turn,,sir,,mara hii,,tutakunyoa,,bila maji,,,,wembe
ni ule ule,,,,hatucheki na watu.

If we go to the referendum,,,we will vote,,,just like
the way we did in the last general elections,,the same regions,,
the same people,,,for nothing has changed,,,,and because you
have a thick head,,,it is hard for you to know this.

But my biggest question is,,,has the IEBC,,changed,,to conduct
a fair referndum???????????

 

[majani wa mzalendo]

its very dangerous to have that man.

 

[Koborer]

I totally disagree with Raila in this. He strikes me here as a very restless person out to grab power at all costs. Why can't he wait for 2017? At least the Jubilee side is making costly mistakes which he could capitalize on to sail through.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

I totally disagree with Raila in this. He strikes me here as a very restless person out to grab power at all costs. Why can't he wait for 2017? At least the Jubilee side is making costly mistakes which he could capitalize on to sail through.

I agree with you.

 

[Edzeame]

what is the position of state retirement benefits. I hear he is putting himself on equal terms with Kibaki..saying he should get to retain 25 government vehicles, an fully furbished executive office within CDB. I really disagree with these current political activists that suggest the tax-payer should sponsor his destabilizing activities.

 

[Edzeame]

I totally disagree with Raila in this. He strikes me here as a very restless person out to grab power at all costs. Why can't he wait for 2017? At least the Jubilee side is making costly mistakes which he could capitalize on to sail through.

probably the reason why he has to raise and maintain political temperatures with this speed and rate of constitutional amendments even after the general election is because he is doubtful of remaining a strong contender for the presidency in 2017 using the current laid down constitutional procedures.

governors both from cord and jubilee have gained back their senses, and it is only a fraction of cord leaders that are calling for a referendum.

I doubt whether this man raila believes in democracy, for advocating to make the kenyan voters as just by-standers to the democratic process which is neither in the cord manifesto nor the new constituion.

what is the future of cord!