Thirdway Alliance party boss Ekuru Aukot on Tuesday unveiled a PayBill number which will allow his team to get contributions from members of the public for his proposed constitutional amendment Bill.
A fortnight ago, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) verified over 1 million signatures collected by the team under the umbrella Punguza Mizigo initiative, paving way for debates in counties.
Already, Dr Aukot, a constitutional lawyer, has delivered the Bill to a number of counties and is left with slightly over 80 days to have all assemblies discussing the bill.
He has now asked members of the public to help him move around the country to explain finer details of the Bill to MCAs. He is required to have at least 24 counties supporting it for it to move to the next step.
"You can now support #PunguzaMizigoBill2019 campaigns in all County Assemblies via this paybill: 785500. We also intend to give civic education to members of the public," he wrote.
Should the Bill pass in the minimum required assemblies, it will be tabled in Parliament. If parliament fails to pass it, Kenyans will have a chance to vote for it in a referendum.
Already, ODM party, which controls over 18 county governments, has opposed the Bill. Last week, ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna said the Bill was not subjected to people for public participation.
“Constitution making or amendment must always be people-driven and result from the widest possible consultations with Kenyans of all walks of life which third way did not bother to attempt,” said Mr Sifuna.
“A proposer for a constitutional amendment through popular initiative has the option under article 257 to put forth general suggestions in the first instance whereupon the public and other stakeholders would have opportunity to input, refine and enrich their proposals. Thirdway chose to forego this and went straight to prepare a Bill with their proposals which Bill was the basis for collection of signatures,” he added.