Tiaty Member of Parliament William Kamket has told off National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale over his stand on his (Kamket) bill seeking changes to the constitution.
Duale on Thursday dismissed the bill saying those supporting it, include opposition leader Raila Odinga’s ODM party, were seeking a shortcut to power.
"We don't want a referendum, they want a referendum. We can't go to bed together," the Garissa Township legislator said on the floor of the House.
But speaking in Fafi, Garissa County on Saturday, Kamket, who is behind the proposal seeking radical changes including introducing the position of a powerful prime minister and significantly clipping presidential powers, defended his bill saying it was aimed at ensuring proper representation.
“The only way even a son of a pastoralist will be president is through this amendment. The Constitution does not belong to Duale and if Kenyans decide to change it, they will,” he said during a thanksgiving ceremony for area MP Abdikarim Osman.
Kamket’s bill has received backing from ODM leaders but those allied to Deputy President William Ruto have opposed it. Ruto allies claim the referendum would be costly and unnecessary.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and lawmakers allied to him have not declared their stand on the issue, keeping Kenyans guessing.