Exiled lawyer Miguna Miguna now claims the ongoing clamor for a referendum is a secret plan by President Uhuru Kenyatta to remain in State House after 2022.
Uhuru is supposed to retire in the next three years after serving for two five-year terms; the maximum one can rule according to the 2010 constitution.
However, Miguna alleged the continuing calls for constitutional amendment, that have received the backing of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga, was a strategy by the incumbent Head of State to extend his rule for another two terms.
He claimed of an existence of 'Handshake draft' that proposes creation of an imperial president and prime minister (PM) posts.
He said Raila, who served as Prime Minister during the Grand Coalition government, will take over the PM post after the referendum sails through.
"The referendum and constitutional amendment are Uhuru Kenyatta's tricks of continuing serving as an imperial president for another 10 years after his illegitimate term expires in 2022. He intends to impose Raila Odinga as PM then. Say No to the #HandCheque draft!" he tweeted on Wednesday.
The vocal lawyer said Uhuru was using the same trick used by retired President Daniel Moi when he repealed section 2A of the old Constitution in 1991, that enabled him to rule further for 11 years.
"Despot Uhuru Kenyatta wants to create an imperial president through a new Constitution, destroy the bill of rights, devolution and TERM LIMIT, then start another 2-term in 2022 like Moi did after the repeal of Sec. 2A in 1991," Miguna opined.
President Kenyatta has in the past, however, noted that he has no intention to remain in power after 2022, insisting that he will vacate office once his term expires.