This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
On July 18, 2019, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced that the Punguza Mzigo Initiative had met the requisite threshold for a national referendum, as required by Article 257 of the Constitution.
The initiative, led by Third Way Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot, aims to reduce the number of Members of Parliament from 416 to 147 and abolish the positions of deputy governors and women representatives.
According to IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati, the commission will submit the draft Bill to each of the 47 county assemblies for consideration within three months from the date of submission.
The Punguza Mzigo push also seeks to increase the equitable shareable revenue of counties from 15 to 35 per cent of last audited accounts approved by Parliament.
Dr. Aukot's party also wants to introduce a one-off seven-year term President and abolish nominations to both the county assemblies and the Senate.
Once the 47 counties go through the proposals, it will be submitted to the National Assembly and eventually to the Senate, setting ground for a national referendum if passed.
