President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) leader Raila Odinga are urging both houses of Parliament to pass the constitutional amendment Bill 2020 insisting the bill represents the aspirations of a majority of Kenyans.
In a joint statement yesterday evening, the two leaders rallied lawmakers from both Houses of Parliament to adopt recommendations made in the Bill in order to allow plans for the popular initiative to commence.
“We are making a joint appeal to members of the National Assembly and the Senate to join the 3,188,001 Kenyans who supported the Bill, and the 44 County Assemblies who approved it, in upholding what represents the hopes and aspirations of all these who participated in the various public forums seeking long term solutions to this country’s problems,” they said.
They both noted that the BBI Bill has gone through the motions provided for in the constitution particularly citing the endorsement of Kenyans who appended over three million signatures on the Bill, surpassing the threshold necessary to take the process to the next stage.
The two leaders reiterated that this was not the time for political adversity and further asked lawmakers to act for the good of the country.
“This is not the time for political adversity nor for personal aggrandizement. This is the time to listen to the people and to remember that it is their sovereignty we exercise as their servants,” they said
“After this vote, the Bill shall be going directly to the people to confirm that indeed they are satisfied that we have been listening to them as they talk.”
This comes after the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi overruled amendments which he said would have exposed it to court cases.
However, Muturi said changes would derail the process, given that the legislation is a product of popular initiative.
“No State organ or person to whom power is delegated by the people under Article 1 of the Constitution can stand in the way of the exercise of the sovereign power of the people of Kenya, to chart the course of their future, in any manner they deem fit within the provisions of the Constitution,” Muturi said.
Muturi said the end result of the Bill lies with the people, who should be allowed to have their final say through a referendum.
“The end of the Bill is in the hands of the people who approve the proposed amendments through a referendum, particularly in the event that a House of Parliament fails to pass it,” he said.
“This is a process that is people driven, where even this House or its rules cannot bar the exercise of the sovereign power of the people.”