Leaders are pushing for a referendum and not the electorate, according to Deputy President William Ruto. In an exclusive interview on Thursday with one of the TV stations, the Deputy President has weighed in on calls to have a Constitution review, ten yeas after the promulgation of the existing document. He said Kenyans are more worried about their livelihoods, their children, jobs, the Coronavirus among other issues. “I would wish those of us in leadership can plug into that conversation where Kenyans are thinking about their livelihoods. Unfortunately many of us are thinking about how we are going to rearrange the Constitution so that we can create some positions,” he said.
The DP said conversations on a possible referendum should emanate from the people and not the government, differing in opinion with President Uhuru Kenyatta who reminded Kenyans on Wednesday that the time to amend the Constitution is now, “It’s not a government’s position,” said Ruto. He noted that the BBI first draft was well received, and wondered why another draft has to be compiled, and where possible complaints for a change came from. He revealed his position, and Jubilee’s position wasn’t captured in the report.
On the war on corruption, he maintained that anti graft bodies should be given the time and space to do their work, and that there should be no sensationalising corruption. However, he faulted the ODM party for abandoning their tough stance on corruption they adopted months ago, following the misuse of funds at KEMSA, “All of a sudden, ODM has a very different view of corruption.” He said some in the opposition are beneficiaries, “They are SK shameless they are boasting about it in corridors everywhere that they have found themselves in the right place,” he said.