Kenya Senators press on with referendum bid to curtail wars with National Assembly

Senators met to discuss progress in their campaign to amend the Constitution to redress frequent turf wars between the National Assembly and Senate.

The meeting chaired by Speaker Ekwee Ethuro at a Nairobi hotel was supposed to discuss proposals by a Senate committee and adopt a report that will guide senators’ referendum campaign.

The Select Legal and Constitutional Review Committee was expected to give its report within 90 days from June.

The senators were tight-lipped about their discussions Thursday but are understood to have reviewed the work by the nine-member committee, which was tasked with identifying sections of the Constitution to be amended to address their grievances.

The committee members are senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo/Marakwet-chairman), Kiraitu Murungi (Meru), Naisula Lesuuda (Nominated), Billow Kerrow (Mandera), James Orengo (Siaya), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Muriuki Karue (Nyandarua) and Halima Abille (Nominated).

The meeting coincided with the fifth anniversary of the Constitution, which was ratified on August 27, 2010 and focuses attention on efforts to amend the Supreme Law.

The Opposition and governors are fronting separate referendum campaigns to change the Constitution targeting provisions on the legislature, Executive, Judiciary, devolution, electoral and land laws, among others.

Governors have cited 23 laws that are offensive to devolution, while senators had threatened to move to the High Court to declare the 69 Acts of Parliament enacted without their input unconstitutional, but have now resorted to push for a referendum.

Pesa Mashinani

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, who is the chairman of the referendum crusade, said they are pushing to ensure devolution is not undermined.

“Once we are done with the county budgets, we shall embark on the popularisation of the bill. Governors will meet to adopt the amendments to the bill,” said Ruto.

Mr Ruto leads a seven-member committee, which comprises governors Peter Munya (Meru), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Ukur Yattani (Marsabit), Moses Akaranga (Vihiga), David Nkedianye (Kajiado) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega).

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 (Amendment) Bill 2014, dubbed the Pesa Mashinani Bill, asks Kenyans to vote for increased allocations of national revenue to the counties.