No turning back on referendum, says Raila Odinga

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga addresses press shortly after meeting Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya in his office.  [Photo: Benjamin Sakwa/Standard]

By Francis Ontomwa and Bryan Tumwa

Kakamega, Kenya: The push for a referendum gained momentum Thursday when former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said there is no turning back.

In his first visit to Kakamega County since the March 2013 elections, the former Prime Minister called for referendum to empower and strengthen the Senate in order to protect county governments.

He said the provincial administration had no role to play since the county governments were up and running.

“The referendum debate is not a Cord affair. We promised Kenyans that devolution must work and that is what we are committed to do,” he said.

Raila, who was speaking after meeting Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya in his office, said devolved governments had to be freed from the interference of the provincial administration.

“We cannot accept a situation where the provincial administration officers are retained but with different titles,” said Raila.

He denied claims that the course for a referendum was an ingenious scheme by Cord to frustrate the government.

More powers

“Strengthening the Senate will guarantee continuity of county governments and enable governors to wield more powers. The drive for a referendum is targeting to increases budgetary allocations to counties to spur economic growth at grassroots level,” he said.

He lashed out at those reducing the referendum debate to party politics, saying they were missing the point since the initiative was a national agenda.

Raila said the process to amass requisite number of signatures to jumpstart the process was at an advanced stage, downplaying assertions the quest would stall.

“I have been a strong proponent of the Constitution at its birth. However, the document is not perfect but has loopholes, which need to be fixed through a referendum. We have identified hurdles on the way of devolution as contentious and when such moments arise, the referendum is the surest way to resolve such issues,” he said.

He called on Kenyans to ignore those saying that the timing of this debate was not right.

“Let them not cheat you because it is the right time and if anything, such processes are taking place all over the world. It has happened recently in France, Germany, and Belgium and in many other nations,” he added.

The former premier laughed off assertions that he was seeking popularity with the referendum quest.

“What other popularity would I be seeking, I have been in politics for the past many years and everyone knows me, it is definite naturally our opponents would want to say all kinds of things. They do not wish us well but this will not cow us,” he said.

Oparanya said Kakamega County was in full support of the referendum, adding it was the only remaining pillar to strengthen devolved governments.

Present during the occasion were Kakamega Deputy Governor Philip Kutima, Lurambi MP Raphael Otaalo, his Shinyalu counterpart Silverse Lisamula Anami and women Representative Rachael Ameso.