IEBC forms vote team as Raila steps up drive

Deputy President, William Ruto chats with Governor Isaac Ruto during a Sunday service in Bomet County. Mr Ruto cautioned governors against “being misused”, arguing that the referendum was purely a project by Cord still suffering from the last General Election loss. PHOTO | DPPS | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Speaking in Bomet on Sunday, Mr Ruto cautioned governors against “being misused” in the pretext that the opposition leaders were pushing for more funds to the counties, arguing that the referendum was purely a project by Cord still suffering from the last General Election loss.
• Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said there were options provided for in the Constitution to solve the problems facing the government.
• Both the Cord Coalition, under the Okoa Kenya Campaign, and governors, under the ‘Pesa Mashinani’ (money to counties) are pushing for separate plebiscites.

By NATION TEAM

Cord leader Raila Odinga has extended an invitation to all those who opposed the Constitution in 2010 to join the demands for a referendum.
Those opposed to the draft constitution in 2010, called the Red Card group, were led by then Opposition politician William Ruto.

Mr Odinga now argues that those who opposed the draft should join the referendum effort because the issues they were not happy with will now be targeted in the referendum.

“We are appealing to those leaders who were not in support of the constitution to come and join hands with us for change and for a better Kenya,” he said.
Mr Ruto, however, appears to be firmly opposed to a referendum and Sunday cautioned Jubilee governors against joining the Cord referendum campaign because, he argued, it would distract the government from its development agenda.

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Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said there were options provided for in the Constitution to solve the problems facing the government.
In the meantime, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has started preparing for the referendum.

It has set up a technical team, headed by Legal and Public Affairs Director Praxedes Tororey, to work out what form a referendum would take — Bills or questions.

“A technical committee is in place to look into all issues pertaining a referendum/referenda,” said IEBC head of communications Tabitha Mutemi.
IEBC said it has the capacity to conduct a referendum should either the opporition or the governors succeed in their quest.

“Yes, the commission has the capacity to conduct a referendum/referenda,” Ms Mutemi said, without explaining whether the commission, which is currently wallowing in debt, has the finances to conduct the poll.

IEBC has previously said it would take in excess of Sh8 billion to conduct the referendum. The money is to come from the public purse.

Both the Cord Coalition, under the Okoa Kenya Campaign, and governors, under the ‘Pesa Mashinani’ (money to counties) are pushing for separate plebiscites.

Ms Mutemi said it was up to the various groups pressing for a referendum to decide how many questions are to be in the draft Bill.
“The number of issues to be contained in a draft bill depends on the promoter(s) of the bill,” Ms Mutemi stated.

The Tororey team has already held talks with the Okoa Kenya Campaign committee of experts chaired by lawyer Paul Mwangi. “We have been meeting them to consult because we want to ensure that the outcome of our work meets the commission’s requirements. We have also shared a lot of correspondence with Praxedes and her team” Mr Mwangi said.

BEING MISUSED

Speaking in Bomet on Sunday, Mr Ruto cautioned governors against “being misused” in the pretext that the opposition leaders were pushing for more funds to the counties, arguing that the referendum was purely a project by Cord still suffering from the last General Election loss.

“Don’t be deceived by calls for referendum because this is purely a push by Raila Odinga who lost in the last election and I want the governors not to allow themselves to be misused,” he said.

Mr Ruto said the Cord leader still believes the IEBC was responsible for the opposition’s defeat and that was why he was leading the crusade to disband the electoral body.

“Don’t let the opposition lie to you. What they want is disbandment of IEBC which they still blame for their loss in the last election,” he said.
In Mathioya, Muranga, Dr Kidero said the referendum should be the last option after exhausting other avenues.

He urged leaders to first exhaust other options before rushing for the referendum. “The Constitution is very clear of the existing alternatives to solve the dispute with the referendum being the last option,” said Dr Kidero.

He said the issues facing Kenyans should be approached in a sober manner.

He spoke as governors from Mt Kenya region led by Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a) and William Kabogo (Kiambu) disowned calls for the referendum.

The opposition has started a campaign for a million voters to endorse the push for changes in the Constitution.
Reports by Peter Leftie, Geoffrey Rono, Copperfield Lagat and Martin Mwaura