The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party has dismissed the Punguza Mizigo initiative, setting the pace for hard politics even before the proposals gather momentum.
Last week, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared the Thirdway Alliance party under Ekuru Aukot, after it managed to gather over one million signatures in their bid for referendum drive.
Already, Aukot and his team have submitted the Bill for debate in a number of counties, with their target being 24 counties. Should they fail to get the support in the said counties, the Bill will be declared dead on arrival.
In a statement read by Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, the party dismissed the Bill as outrageous adding that it contained contradicting suggestions.
Sifuna insisted that the party will mobilise all county assemblies where it dominates to reject the Bill in totality. ODM controls 18 assemblies out of the 47.
"After thorough analysis, we have given our position as @TheODMparty on the Punguza Mizigo referendum Bill. It is our considered view that the Bill must be rejected as it is a few sound proposals sandwiched between contradictory, outrageous and unsound ones," he said.
NASA Chief Executive Officer Norman Magaya also dismissed the referendum push, arguing that the Punguza Mizigo Bill lacks basic constitutional support.
"The Punguza Mzigo thing is hopelessly shallow, blatantly opportunistic, smacks of merchant politics, falls short of basic constitutional principles and must be binned as it is," he said.
Should the Bill pass in the 24 assemblies, it will be taken to Parliament. Should MPs fail to pass it, Kenyans will have an opportunity to vote for it in a referendum.