Jubilee MPs now join calls for a referendum

Tiaty MP Asman Kamama

Kenya: MPs from the ruling Jubilee Coalition have announced a new plan to amend the Constitution to increase money to counties to a minimum of 46 per cent and Cabinet Secretaries appointed by Parliament.

They also want a double allocation to the Constituency Development Fund and a death sentence for corrupt public officers and drug dealers.

The proposals are similar to the ones filed by the opposition but the Jubilee lawmakers say they are out to "correct the 20 per cent that was said to be bad" when the Constitution was promulgated five years ago.

They added that "at some stage", they will have to meet the OKOA Kenya team to harmonise the drafts and have one referendum at election time.

The MPs led by Asman Kamama (Tiaty) and Gideon Konchella (Kilgoris) said they are 125 legislators in the Boresha Katiba Initiative.

The MPs further said they want to collect three million signatures "in the shortest time possible" to force a referendum.

The lawmakers said they will build consensus with the Opposition to have the referendum conducted with the next General Election.

Asked if President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto backed the move, the MPs said the Executive had to stay away.

"This is a Parliamentary initiative and not that of the Executive," said Kamama, who was also flanked by Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurweini)