Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto, has criticised a campaign by the opposition to push for a referendum that would create positions for its leaders including Raila Odinga. Addressing a congregation in Nakuru, on Sunday, Ruto said its unfair to put Kenyans in campaign mood just a few months after the dramatic 2017 elections.
“Talking of amending the constitution right now in order to create other political positions is to lack respect for the electorate,” he told the congregation. He maintained that the government should be granted a conducive environment to implement the campaign promises and development agenda, rather than be sidetracked by ‘politics of power games’.
Politicians from Odinga’s party and the opposition National Super Alliance coalition have been agitating for a referendum to create positions of prime minister and deputies within the country’s constitution.
They argue that the reconciliatory handshake between Odinga nd president Uhuru Kenyatta necessitates the need to accommodate the opposition into government. Kenya’s 2010 constitution provides for a presidential system whereby the president is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system while a parliamentary system would introduce a prime minister as head of government business in parliament.The meetings have been met with suspicion from both Odinga’s colleagues in the opposition and Ruto’s camp who have agreements to be endorsed for the presidential race in 2022.
The meetings featured Moi’s son, Senator Gideon Moi, Kibaki’s son, Jimmy Kibaki and Kibaki’s nephew, Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, who are all seen as potential candidates for the highest office in the land.
President Kenyatta is expected to explain details of the unity deal with Odinga on May 2 when he delivers the State of the Nation address. In the meantime, it’s politicking and lobbying by politicians eyeing the 2022 succession race.
Source: Daily Nation