Jubilee MPs' referendum bid picks up

An initiative launched last week by Jubilee parliamentarians to amend the Constitution has gathered momentum. The effort is aimed at increasing money for counties and having Cabinet secretaries appointed by Parliament.

Tiaty MP Asman Kamama, the chairman of the Boresha Katiba Initiative that proposes a death sentence for corrupt public officers and drug dealers, said they have started a process of collecting signatures from members of the National Assembly.

Mr Kamama who spoke Wednesday at a press conference at Parliament Buildings explained that the initiative which also seeks to double allocation to the Constituency Development Fund is progressing well, and they have received positive feedback.

Collection of signatures

“We have started the collection of MPs signatures to formalise the parliamentary caucus and by next week, we hope to have collected at least 230 signatures,” Kamama said.

He explained that an interim technical team is fine-tuning a working document which will be unveiled next week. Kamama said that after the document is fine-tuned, a multi-disciplinary team will gather and deliberate on the constitutional issues.

“The key constitutional issues identified will be unveiled by December 10. We have already started contacting various groupings including the clergy and civil society to get their views,” said Kamama.

According to the lawmaker most Kenyans who have given their feedback want the reduction of elective and appointed seats both in the county and national governments. Majority of them too, support the proposal of passing stiff anti-graft laws.

Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando appealed to all Kenyans to support them as they seek to change 20 per cent of the Constitution which they deem unfit.