Members of the Jubilee Party from Busia and Siaya Counties have opposed proposed changes to the Constitution terming it a waste of time and resources. Addressing the media after holding a two hour meeting at a hotel at Korinda in Busia town, the members led by their leaders George Ogando and Washington Alunga said there are other important issues that need to be addressed by the national government and leaders instead of changing the Constitution, “If I may ask Kenyans, is the amendment of the Constitution a priority in this country? The answer is definitely no. There are other important issues that need to be addressed like the ailing health sector, high rate of unemployment among the youth and implementation of big four agendas of the national government,” stated Ogando.
They said they will only support a Constitutional review that aims at elevating the livelihood of Kenyans, “We are not going to support a Constitutional change that aims at creating positions for some individuals and leave the majority of Kenyans suffering. We will only support changes in the Constitution if they will be for the good of Kenyans at large.”
Ogando, however, proposed Constitutional changes aimed at addressing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), to strengthen it so as to avert political wrangles that results from electoral malpractices allegedly committed by the Commission and politicians, “During every general elections we normally have accusations against IEBC, over rigging in some aspirants and failing to properly and independently oversee the elections. For that reason, I propose that let us go back to the Constitution and make some changes surrounding the Commission including giving it more powers so that we end the alleged malpractices.”
The more than one hundred members also endorsed Deputy President William Ruto’s bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2022 general elections, “Today we declare our support to Deputy President Dr. William Ruto as he seeks to be Kenya’s President in 2022. We are going to stand with him and look for votes for him in this region and ensure he gets the Presidency.”
They dismissed the notion that Busia County is an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) zone saying every Kenyan has a right to support a political party of their choice, “We are in a democratic country and we have a democratic right to support a person we feel can further our development agendas.”
