NASA leader Raila Odinga and incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta. [Photo/Citizen TV]
Opposition chief Raila Odinga wants an interim government to manage the country for six months as the constitution is reviewed to curb the president’s authority.
In an interview with global news agency Reuters, the National Super Alliance (NASA) leader said he was open to talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta over a constitutional review that will see the minority groups in the country get considered in power which according to him will avert possible violence from the said groups.
President Kenyatta was re-elected with 98 percent of the vote during the October 26 repeat presidential poll.
The Opposition, led by his main rival Raila Odinga skipped the process claiming that it was a process with predetermined results.
Odinga urged his supporters to boycott the poll Odinga urged his supporters to boycott the poll exercise, an advice that was largely headed.
The fresh presidential vote which Odinga and cronies have branded as a sham process was conducted with respect to the Supreme Court verdict on September 1 that dismissed the results of the presidential elections vote on August 8.
“A pure presidential system enhances ethnicity because each community believes that they are not safe unless their man is at the top,” Odinga told Reuters on Tuesday.
According to the veteran politician, a constitutional review could strengthen institutions like the IEBC and cut down the powers of the presidency.
“We think that maybe six months will be required to carry out all these changes that we need in this country.”
After the Oct. 26 election, the opposition camp has vowed not to recognise President Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency. They have launched a resistance campaign aimed at ensuring product and services from firms that are allegedly sympathising with the ruling Jubilee are boycotted by consumers (majorly from the Opposition support bases).
The civil disobedience encompasses protests too in a bid to force reforms.
NASA failed to challenge Kenyatta’s October 26 victory at the Supreme Court.
However, two cases have been successfully submitted to the Supreme Court to challenge the validity of the fresh presidential poll outcome.
In a period of 14 days, the country would have a clear way forward; either affirming President Kenyatta’s win or annulling it for a fresh exercise.
Odinga has remained adamant that even if the courts fail to annul Kenyatta’s win, the incumbent will face a hard time in governing the nation through a second term after more than half of the voters failed to participate in the repeat presidential poll.