Much awaited signature collection drive kicks off at a slow pace

Kenya: The much-awaited signature collection drive by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) kicked off yesterday at a slow pace.

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s event in Nairobi’s Embakasi area was momentarily disrupted by rain, while  the signature collection failed to take off in some parts of the country following a long wait for the petition forms.

The exercise, spearhead by CORD’s co-principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo and Moses Wetang’ula in Nairobi, Migori and Trans Nzoia counties respectively marks, the first step in the slippery referendum journey.

In Migori, Raila revealed that the coalition was targeting five million signatures from across the country and said they expect to hit the one million mark within the first week.

No looking back

Contrary to the demands by some Jubilee alliance leaders that the referendum exercise be conducted alongside the 2017 General Election, the former Prime Minister said it would burden Kenyans. He maintained that they would not back down on their quest to conduct the constitutional amendment before the next polls.

“There is nowhere in the world where a referendum has been held alongside elections. It will also be expensive to the electorates since we have six elective positions in the country,” he said.

He dismissed the claims that it is still premature to amend the Constitution, saying it has taken four years since the document was promulgated in 2010. “In the run up to the 2010 referendum, (Deputy President) William Ruto insisted that it was bad and that we make amendments before passing it, but we agreed that although there were errors, we pass the document and make amendments later. This is the right time to make the changes,” the former Prime Minister said.

Raila was speaking at Kadika Primary School in Migori County, where area Governor Okoth Obado curiously skipped the event. The CORD leader was accompanied by Migori Senator Wilfred Machage, MPs Junnet Muhammed (Suna East), Dr Paul Otuoma (Funyula) and John Mbadi (Suba).

And presiding over the exercise in Nairobi, Kalonzo mobilised people to sign-up “in order to boost security, increase revenues to counties, bring electoral reforms, open up government procurement and appointment, and shore up the powers of constitutional commissions.”

The Wiper party leader was accompanied by senators Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni) and Judith Sijeny (nominated), and MPs Steve Kariuki (Mathare), Irshad Sumra (Embakasi South) and Simba Arati (Dagoretti North).

Hundreds of Kenyans turned up at Embakasi Girls Secondary School to append their signatures to the forms at the exercise which began at noon and went on until five o’clock when the rains disrupted it.

 

There were thin crowds as people trickled to the registration venue to put down their names, identity card numbers and constituencies in a bid to make sure the Constitution is changed.

Wetang’ula braved a heavy down pour to lead Trans Nzoia residents in appending their signatures at Kiminini Constituency Development Fund (CDF) offices accompanied by Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba and Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa.

The Bungoma Senator said the referendum was aimed at protecting devolution and denied claims by Jubilee leaders that it was meant to destabilise the Government. “We have no intention to take power from Jubilee. What we want is to ensure devolution is protected by ensuring 40 per cent of the national budget is allocated to the counties to steer up development,” he argued.

In Nairobi, Job Ondimu, 26, a matatu driver, told The Standard On Sunday that he had turned up for the drive because he believed his signature will push the Government to change its attitude towards young people.

Delayed forms

“I want to save Kenya. We are in the Okoa Kenya Movement. Life is difficult, the economy is terrible, the prices of goods have made our life here unaffordable,” said Ondimu, who was off-duty from his daily job of plying the Imara Daima–Mombasa Road-City Centre route.

In North Rift, the launch failed to take place due to delay in the arrival of the petition forms. Kipkorir Menjo, an ODM official from Uasin Gishu, said the process is expected to kick off on Monday.

“The process is not meant to be hurried and the delay will not scuttle any plans by the public to append their signatures,” he said.

Menjo said they are targeting 600,000 signatures from the area.

In Elgeyo Marakwet, CORD officials introduced the team that will oversee the collection to residents ahead of the exercise set for next week. Friends of Raila (Fora) Chairman Micah Kigen said the collection of signatures would kick off on Monday in all the 20 wards in the county.

“We have volunteers and party members who will go round the county collecting signatures from the residents in the area. This team will be coordinated by Ambassador Tabitha Seii,” he said.

Kigen, who is also an ODM delegate from the area, said they expect to collect more than 100,000 signatures in the region that is perceived to be a Jubilee zone.

But County URP Chairman John Kangogo said they have put mechanisms to counter CORD’s push for referendum in the area. “In as much as CORD is collecting signatures, we in the Jubilee coalition have been educating the public about holding the referendum at a later date because we feel the timing is not appropriate,” he said.

Elsewhere in West Pokot, CORD supporters expressed their fury over delayed distribution of referendum forms.

Small groups of CORD supporters thronged Kapenguria to append their signatures but did not receive any communication from coalition officials. “We are yet to be informed about what is causing the delay. This may delay the exercise,” said James Losiakou.

Organisers of the event attributed the mishap to the Members of County Assembly (MCA) forum in Nairobi, noting that most of them are active officials of the Party.