Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot has responded after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) boss Raila Odinga described his Punguza Mizigo Bill 2019 as 'Punguza Gunia'.
During the memorial service of former Kibra MP Ken Okoth, Raila mocked Aukot’s Bill and urged Kenyans to reject it and support the yet to be written a proposal by Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
"The only referendum we know is that of BBI. Kindly be ready to vote for it. Leave alone the Punguza Gunia thing," the former Prime Minister said last week.
Reacting to the sentiments, Aukot laughed at the new name, noting it was in the spirit of his much-hyped proposal to amend the 2010 constitution.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on KTN, the former presidential contender asked Raila to stop opposing his Bill, just like his handshake partner President Uhuru Kenyatta has done.
"To be fair, President Uhuru has not spoken against this Bill. Raila Odinga called it ‘Punguza Gunia’. I agree with him, Kenyans carry ‘mizigo’ in ‘gunia’, it is so heavy for them, we need to punguza it," Aukot said.
He asked Kenyans to 'rise up' and back Punguza Mizigo Bill 2019 and reject proposals by BBI which he termed as 'unacceptable', since it was an agreement between the leading politicians.
"The BBI is an agreement of two individuals Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. Imposing it on 46 million Kenyans is not acceptable," he said.
"Nobody has monopoly of ideas on how this country must change, we are all thinkers and can think what is best for this country. The Wanjikus are rising up and will take over this country very soon," the Thirdway Alliance boss added.