This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
As the country gears up for the validation process of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report, President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga's allies are pushing for a referendum this year. The push comes despite Deputy President William Ruto's team expressing caution on the move.
Senate Leader of Minority James Orengo, who spoke on Monday, stated that the country is headed for a busy electioneering period and that it is only important that the plebiscite be conducted either in June or July. This points to a foregone conclusion on the political path the BBI is taking.
Mr Orengo wants President Kenyatta to hasten the gazetting of the extended mandate of the BBI team if the country must have a referendum before the 2022 General Election. He also noted that the second phase of the BBI's consultative meetings across the country will begin this Friday in Kisii County and take place in Kakamega on January 18.
“We want to see matters that are policy and statutory in nature. The committee needs to start working as early as possible,” Mr Orengo said, noting that the absence of the referendum law will not hamper the plebiscite.
The country has held two referenda - in 2005 and 2010 - without the law.
On the other hand, Deputy President William Ruto's lieutenants have expressed caution on the move. Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen dismissed the call for a referendum, saying the country does not need it to solve its current problems.
“If you ask me, a referendum is not possible this year and we do not need it to solve our issues. The earliest we can have it is October, November or December this year. I believe there will be no referendum this year because the same politicians talked about it in the past year but nothing happened,” Mr Murkomen said.
Mr Orengo and Prof Ongeri spoke as the country geared up for the validation process of the BBI report to look at its proposals and determine the issues to be addressed through legislation, policy, and those that will go to the referendum.
