President Uhuru Kenyatta has hinted to a possibility of the country holding a referendum to change the current set-up of representation as enshrined in the constitution.
While on a visit to Kisumu, Uhuru said there is a need to have a system that accommodates everyone to address the winner-takes-all set up that is currently in Kenya’s constitution.
Speaking at Mamboleo, the President said they sat down with Raila Odinga and decided to ensure they will end the animosity witnessed every electioneering period.
“Tukasema lazima tuketi na tupata nafasi ya kuongea na wakenya na tujiulize ni kwa nini siasa yetu imekuwa ni ya ukabila, na ni kwa nini siasa yetu ni ya matusi … Na ndio tunataka tutafute dawa ya mambo haya (We said it is good we look into solutions on how we can avoid the animosity witnessed every electioneering period and end bad politics in Kenya),” Uhuru said.
The head of state added: “ Lazima tuangalie hii maneno ya uchaguzi na winner-takes-it-all …na lazima tujiulize is that a good thing or not. Kwa sababu hiyo ni shida moja na lazima tujiulize tutaitatua kwa njia gani (We must relook into the current form of representation and ask ourselves if it is good for us where winner takes it all. If it is not, we find a solution).”
The remarks will likely stir the political scene, especially within political camps with eyes to 2022.
The possibility of the plebiscite was first brought about by opposition chief Raila Odinga when he told Kisumu residents earlier that a referendum was one of the agreements of the March 9 handshake.
The head of state was in Kisumu to launch the Universal Health Care pilot program.
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