Political analyst Prof Edward Kisiang'ani now wants Kenyan internal boundaries to be redrawn afresh, a move that could raise political storm.
For decades, Kenya has embraced centralism which provides for a strong imperial presidency at Nairobi.
However in 2013, Kenya embraced devolved systems where 47 counties were created across the country, and headed by governors.
However, Prof Kisiang'ani now wants Kenya's boundaries redrawn to regional states with executive governors.
"If BBI is going to be this toxic, let us our redraw out internal boundaries, remove the ethnic exclusivity of some of our counties then create bigger states that will translate into the Federal Republic of Kenya under one Executive President with powerful Executive Governors," he said.
Federalism is practiced in the United States of America where states are empowered and enjoy much autonomy from the national government.
In Africa, this model of governance is practiced in Somalia where states govern themselves and are not entirely answerable to the national government.
At independence, Kenyan was also partitioned into regions which were eight in total. However, the system which was called Majimbo was later discarded for a republic.