NASA leader Raila when he campaigned in Taita Taveta on Friday. [Photo: Raila Odinga/ facebook.com]
Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday told Kenyans to rally behind and vote for the National Super Alliance (NASA) on August 8.
Raila said a NASA government will send at least 45 per cent of the country’s total budget to counties in devolution’s support.He said by fighting to fail Coalition for Reforms and Democracy’s (Cord) referendum initiative that sought to change the Constitution to increase budgetary allocation to counties from 15 per cent to 45 per cent, Jubilee had shown disinterest in support for devolution.“We are the architects of devolution and we will not allow it fail,” he said at a rally in Voi on Friday.“When we take over government, we will ensure at least 45 per cent of Kenya’s total budget is sent to counties. This can only happen if you vote for NASA. On August 8, let’s send Jubilee home.”Raila through the Okoa Kenya referendum initiative had sought to change the Constitution by raising Kenya’s budgetary allocation to counties from 15 per cent to at least 45 per cent.The initiative, however, failed as Cord unsuccessfully obtained the required one million signatures from Kenyans to push for the plebiscite.Former IEBC Chairman Isaac Hassan after scrutinizing Cord’s report said the coalition had obtained only 891,598 signatures.“The analysis of the data presented by the Okoa Kenya popular initiative has shown that that the number of valid registered voters supporting the initiative is 891,598. This falls short of the one million registered voters required by law,” Hassan said then.“Therefore, the Commission wishes to declare that the Okoa Kenya proposal to amend the Constitution initiative has collapsed by operation of the law.”Hassan’s announcement led to a series of anti-IEBC rallies in Nairobi, Kisumu, Kakamega Nyamira and Kisii that led to the reconstitution of the electoral body that brought in current chairman Wafula Chebukati.