The Ekuru Aukot-led ThirdWay Alliance, through an initiative dubbed Punguza Mizigo is seeking for a Constitutional review in order to reduce the burden and cost of governance currently being borne by Kenyan taxpayers.
This saw them submit 1.4 million signatures to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) calling for a constitutional referendum, but IEBC has remained mum on the issue.
“The Punguza Mizigo proposed constitutional amendments, will save Kenyans over Sh3.78 trillion which is higher than the current national annual budget. With this money, we will be able to meet the demands of nurses, teachers and doctors and even create jobs for our growing youth population,” read a statement from the ThirdWay Alliance.
ThirdWay Alliance Secretary General Fredrick Okango said the bill was submitted early this year but IEBC had not responded as per their promise.
“Since we submitted the Bill Punguza Mzigo (Constitution Amendment) 2019 on February 28, together with the 1.4 Million signatures, IEBC promised to get back to us with the verification results or feedback in one month’s time. We haven’t heard from them and they are yet to respond to our letter,” said Mr. Okango.
In a letter to the IEBC Chairman Mr Chebukati which was received on April 1, Thirdaway says that the commission in the past has verified signatures in a similar processing without additional budgets as claimed by the Commission’s CEO.
Punguza Mizigo initiative addresses the strengthening of the Senate and National Assembly in order to reduce cost of running Parliament, also focuses on devolution by taking services to people’s doorsteps and putting an end to gender imbalance and inequality.
The popular initiative was also calling for the reduction of public wage bill and recurrent expenditure, enforcing integrity and reducing the cost of running elections and registration of voters.