Aukot law alteration plan gets support

More than 600,000 signatures have been collected in support for review of the Constitution.

Thirdway Alliance, which is behind the Punguza Mizigo initiative seeking to reduce the number of MPs from 416 to 147, yesterday said it had surpassed the 600,000 mark.

At least one million signatures are needed to make a referendum possible.

Speaking after getting endorsement from members of New Democrats Party, Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot said: “We are happy with the progress. We hope to reach the one million mark in the next one month. Kenyans have embraced the initiative and we are receiving signatures from diverse groups of people regardless of their political affiliation”.

The National Assembly has 349 members - comprising MPs and Women Representatives, while Senate has 67 members.

Thirdway Alliance has also proposed that the 47 counties be used as a single constituency unit for purposes of parliamentary elections to the Senate and National Assembly.

Aukot said after visiting several counties to get citizens' views, his party decided to increase issues citizens seek to be addressed from seven to 13.