United Democratic Forum party to announce stand on referendum

The United Democratic Forum party will make known its stand on the referendum on October 24, when leaders and delegates meet in Nairobi.

Among other issues to be discussed is the progress by the Jubilee government on the implementation of the new Constitution.

Party leaders Ndiritu Muriithi, Jeremiah Kioni and Sam Nyamweya said individual members have been giving conflicting views concerning the issue, which was not good for the party's unity.

Speaking in Nyahururu during the party's consultative meeting, they expressed concern over the rising political temperatures in the country.

Mr Muriithi said the party was willing to engage all its leaders to evaluate the way forward on constitutional implementation.

Muriithi said the party would also use the opportunity to gauge its progress in the Amani coalition.

Mr Kioni, who is the deputy party leader, said other matters to be discussed include effectiveness of the new Constitution and what should be done about ineffective constitutional commissions.

ERRANT CANDIDATE

"Unlike electoral positions where citizens can recall or reject an errant candidate in a subsequent election, there is nothing much wananchi can do to independent commissions like the Judiciary (Service Commission)," said Kioni.

He noted political intolerance was creeping back into the country and called for urgent intervention to avoid full blown violence.

"We have seen these problems in Makueni, Migori, Nandi, Kapsabet, Kinango and many other parts of the country and therefore as a party, there is need for us to sit and ask ourselves these pertinent questions and decide the way forward," he said.

Mr Nyamweya said the other issue to be discussed was the progress of devolution.