Need to amend article 148 of the constitution through a referendum-MP Ouda.

 Kisumu Central MP Fred Ouda addressing students whom the constituency has sponsored their four-year secondary education.He says there is need to amend article 148 of the Constitution through a  referendum to bring clarity on the Presidential Candidature of a Deputy President who has served two terms successfully-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

January 9, 2019.

Need to amend article 148 of the constitution through a referendum-MP Ouda.

A MEMBER of Parliament has said there is need to amend Article 148 of the Constitution through a referendum so as to bring clarity on the Presidential Candidature of a Deputy President who has served two terms successfully.

Kisumu Central Member of Parliament Fred Ouda says this needs to be done to as to help clearing the air following the debate that is currently ongoing whether the current serving Deputy President Dr. William Ruto is eligible to vie for the Presidency in the year 2022 General Election.

Speaking in Kisumu today after distributing cheques to 40 bright but needy students from the constituency who are joining form one in different schools across the country, the legislator said he earlier had intention of presenting a Bill in Parliament to help in addressing the issue of the Deputy President contesting the seat for the President after successfully serving as a Deputy President for two terms.

He says the current debate about moving to Supreme Court of Kenya to seek interpretation of article 148 of the constitution is very much in order and should be done as soon as possible.

“There is a lot of talks about moving to Supreme Court of Kenya so as to seek interpretation of Article 148 of the constitution because Kenyans need interpretation on this area which is very grey and not clear,” he says.

He says he is really sympathizing with some Members of Parliament who are dismissing the need to go to Supreme Court of Kenya to seek on interpretation on the mentioned article of the Constitution.

He says for the name and image of a President and his Deputy to appear on a ballot paper during the General Election, it is deemed they are candidates.

“For your name and image to appear on a ballot paper, it is deemed you are a candidate in that particular election and someone is putting a mark against your name or your image. The question is should that particular person having been in the office of the Presidency and elected more than two terms and his deputy. Is he eligible to vie again as much as he was serving at the institution of the President?” he asks.

He adds that during  the previous elections of 2013 and 2017, apart from the image and name of the President there was also the image and name of the current Deputy President in the ballot, adding that this was also the case of the currently serving Governors and their Deputies.

“The biggest question is whether these were all candidates or not,” Ouda further says.

Ouda says he will not bring back the petition to Parliament, adding that if it is not taken to the Supreme Court of Kenya then a National Referendum should be carried so as to amend the Article.

“If this is not taken to the Supreme of Kenya then an amendment is needed in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 if at all things have to change. If not so then I am asking for a national referendum to come as early as tomorrow so that we can vote and change that area which is a grey one and can even at one time bring anarchy in this country. This needs to be sorted out because we are alive,” Ouda adds.

Article 148 of the constitution talks about Election and swearing in of Deputy President.

ENDS