President Uhuru Kenyatta’s position on whether and what to change in the Constitution is so closely guarded that even his media handlers are in the dark.
Acting Spokesperson Kanze Dena said her team was not in a position to state where the President stood on a matter that has polarised the country.
“It’s hard for me to comment on the issue because the President has not talked about it publicly. I am not in his mind and I don’t want to guess his thinking because I will be engaging in rumours,” Ms Dena told the Nation yesterday.
President Kenyatta has maintained a studious silence on the issue even as Deputy President William Ruto appeared to support a referendum on condition that the changes benefit the citizenry rather than tweak the executive to include more politicians.
On Monday, Mr Ruto said changing the Constitution was not a priority.
Speaking at Kimutwa market in Machakos where he launched a 12km Kimutwa-Kwa Mutisya road being constructed by the national government, Mr Ruto said delivering the Big Four agenda was of bigger importance.
He accused people who were against making changes on the draft constitution before passing it of hypocrisy, saying they were now pushing for its amendment.
He said the debate would be objective only when the referendum question is floated. “Politics ended last year. What remains is for us to unite and work for the people. The people want roads, electricity, education for their children and health. Those who lost should wait for another election in 2022,” said Mr Ruto.
“We told them to correct the draft constitution before passing it but they told us it was perfect, now they want us to change it,” he said. Proponents of the changes, he said, were doing it for selfish reasons.
Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka said there were people who wanted to push the President to continue leading after expiry of his term and against his wish.
While joining residents of Uhuru estate, Nairobi, on Saturday for the monthly clean-up drive, President Kenyatta berated those who have set the country on an early 2022 campaign mode.
He dismissed a request by Makadara MP George Aladwa that the Constitution should be amended to extend his term of office.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has come out strongly in favour of a referendum to give the Building Bridges Initiative (the handshake) a legal platform to succeed. The initiative seeks to promote inclusivity in government.
Jubilee Party secretary-general Raphael Tuju could not be reached to state the party position while the party vice chairman David Murathe declined to comment.
Uhuru’s best kept secret: Allies in the dark on referendum: President has maintained a studious silence on the issue. https://t.co/l6sWOtwRMS
— Breaking News (@News_Kenya) October 9, 2018