The referendum wave sweeping the country is taking a new twist in Kilifi County after a section of residents revealed having different proposals from the Punguza Mizigo and, possibly, the Building Bridges Initiative team.
The residents, under Peace and Prosperity Kenya, are proposing the constitution to be amended not only to change governance but also the emblems of the national flag and national anthem.
According to the residents, the national flag should not display the two spears and the shield since more than five decades have passed since the country got independence through bloodshed.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Rabai, Kilifi County, Athman Ndune, Peace and Prosperity Kenya coordinator, reiterated that the country is no longer at war; hence, using war symbols is misplaced as they symbolize that Kenya is a war-torn nation.
He said, “we were done with battling for independence through spears and shields 56 years ago. We expected after gaining independence; the 2010 constitution would replace the symbols with peace symbols like a white dove and the star.”
Ndune added that the national anthem does not entirely communicate peace message as it also carries phrases that show Kenya is still at war.
“We feel the phrase ‘Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi,’ show Kenyans still believe in war. We suggest the phrase to be replaced with a statement like ‘haki na iwe kwa wote'," he said.
The residents added that Kenyans at the grassroot level feel the pinch of poor governance the most especially with the high cost of living.
The coordinator reiterated that the president should be compelled by law not to be a politician; instead, he/she should be a neutral individual to serve all Kenyans.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta has been hesitant to visit opposition strongholds, especially the Nyanza region. The country has been divided until the handshake neutralized the situation. We want a neutral person to occupy the seat and penetrate every corner of the country,” added Ndune.
According to Roselyn Mganga, the writer and editor to the proposals, the residents believe the passage of the recommendations will bail out the common mwananchi.
“In our proposal, we recommend that the president and the governors be deprived of the power to appoint ministers directly. It is now obvious the president and governors appoint their political friends and campaigners to be ministers, ambassadors, and chairpersons for independent bodies,” added Mganga.
She said that the selection of ministers for the national and county government should be a public affair, adding that everyone qualified should be allowed to send their applications for the posts.
She added: “Fighting corruption in the national and county governments has proved a hard task in Kenya because the corrupt individuals and the one who appointed them are friends.”
Additionally, the residents suggested leaders not to use holy books when taking oath since they defy what they swore to do when holding the sacred books and later do the contrary, adding that it is mocking God.
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