Thursday's verification of 1 million signatures by ThirdWay Alliance boss Ekuru Aukot may have caught many political players by surprise given that it was unexpected.
In interview with KBC previously, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna promised to resign should Aukot manage to collect over a million signatures. Already, he has been proven wrong.
With a parallel constitutional changes forum under Building Bridges Initiative going on, Aukot's referendum could distract it thus causing confusions.
Already, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has dismissed Aukot's Punguza Mizigo initiative, arguing that real changes can be brought through BBI.
“We need to remain focused, the initiative might distract us from the real changes we are yearning through the BBI,” said Kalonzo.
Similar views were shared by Majority Leader Aden Duale, an indication that it will be a tall order for the popular initiative by Aukot to see the light of the day.
“By attempting to cut on the representation of the people, the Punguza Mizigo Bill has begun its journey to the funeral at the County Assemblies, we will lobby them to reject in total,” said Duale.
Law Society of Kenya South Nyanza branch chair Wilkins Ochoki says that the only way Aukot's Bill can be stopped is through County Assemblies.
"It's a popular initiative according to article 257. For it to be stopped, it has to be shoot down by majority of the assemblies (24). By that, it won't proceed to the next level," he says.
"For Aukot to survive, he needs political support which is much unlikely. The Bill may die a natural death on arrival. It's not easy without political will," he adds.
But Aukot believes that the initiative is being backed by people. He hailed IEBC for verifying the signatures after months of waiting.
He said: “We came to you, you listened and endorsed. We thank IEBC for the above board signature verification exercise. This is for the people of Kenya.”
Should the initiative pass through the assemblies, then Aukot would successfully disorient BBI because whether or not it's passed by parliament, it will be subjected to referendum.