Follow constitutional provisions on referendum, lobby tells politicians

Coordinator of  the Ecumenical Center for Justice and Peace in Kisumu County Arch Bishop Elias Komenya addressing the participants during the official launch of the civic education program in Kisumu-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

February 11, 2020

Follow constitutional provisions on referendum, lobby tells politicians

POLITICIANS have been told to strictly follow the various constitutional provisions on the need to change the constitution through a national referendum.

A lobby group has said politicians should stop misleading the public on the issue holding a referendum to change the constitution through Building Bridges Initiative.

Addressing the participants during the official launch of the civic education program on the need for public participation by the public on various issues that include the Building Bridges Initiative, Ecumenical Center for Justice and Peace Coordinator for Kisumu County Arch Bishop Elias Komenya said some politicians are telling the public that a national referendum to amend the constitution can be possible by June this year but this is not the truth.

Komenya says constitutional provisions that include Article 255, 256 and 257 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and other related laws should be strictly adhered to.

He says the constitutional provisions has timelines which must be followed for the process of the National Referendum to be on the right way.

“Public participation process should be carried out within three months then the document is drafted where the document will now be taken to both National Assembly and the Senate then it will later be proposed after which a referendum can take place,” he says.

He says the entire process right from public participation, civic education among other processes should take about seven months from now, adding that such timelines cannot allow a national referendum to be held in June this year.

Komenya says the process of collecting the views of the public on BBI should continue, adding that the public should clearly understand the nine thematic areas that include devolution, Inclusivity, Divisive Elections among others.

He says politicians should not hijack the process of constitutional amendment, adding that the public should fully have a say in analyzing the content of BBI.

Ends.