Referendum Looming as Agreement of Azimio and KK is Exposed

A day after the Majority leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah and his counterpart from the minority side Opiyo Wandayi tabled a motion on the bipartisan talks between the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance and Kenya Kwanza Alliance, experts and political leaders have expressed mixed reactions.

The motion seeks to legalize the talks between the two coalitions, a decision that came after the two sides met on Monday at the Bomas of Kenya.

Leaders from Kenya Kwanza have welcomed the move, saying the talks will be in line with the law and the Constitution just as President William Ruto proposed in the previous bipartisan talks.

Speaking with NTV on Wednesday, Lawyer Fanya Mambo Kinuthia argued that based on the issues proposed for talks and the decision to table a motion to legalize the talks, means that Kenyans are staring at a referendum.

In his remarks, Kinuthia held the view that President Ruto is seemingly bringing the issues contained in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and seeking a way through the talks.

I think as Kenyans, we are staring at a referendum. These people have realized that they will not start a referendum through a popular initiative but through parliament.”

“The implementation of the two thirds gender rule, creation of the office of the opposition leader and embedment of the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, all requires constitutional amendments and that means going to the people for a referendum.”

“With the two coalitions going to parliament, it means they have agreed to go for a referendum, and which will be non-divisive probably to take place within the next two years,” said Kinuthia.

The motion will be up for debate today in the afternoon ahead of the Monday, August 21st talks.