Why NASA now wants to call for referendum

The National Super Alliance (NASA) is threatening to call for a constitutional referendum to amend Executive powers in a bid to restore electoral justice in the country.

Speaking in Vihiga on Saturday, NASA co-principal Musalia Mudavadi claimed that the current structure of the Executive arm of government is unworkable and that the Jubilee administration wants to use its numbers in parliament to arm-twist institutions responsible for elections.

“It is not possible for the executive structure in the current constitution to work in this country. Kenyans should prepare themselves, we want to go for a referendum to rectify the Constitution because Jubilee wants to use its numbers in Parliament to deceive Kenyans,” said Mudavadi.

The Amani National Congress leader also claimed that the referendum call by NASA was a means of invoking the power of the people, maintaining that President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta had been voted in by a minority in the October 26 repeat presidential election which according to the electoral commission had a 38% voter turnout.

“The people’s power shall manifest in the referendum. We want the 70% who stayed at home (during the October 26 presidential election) not to allow a few people to bully us in our country,” Mudavadi said.

This comes even as four county assemblies have approved a motion by NASA lawmakers to establish People’s Assemblies. The counties – Homa Bay, Siaya, Vihiga and Busia – are set to appoint delegates to form caucuses that will push for reforms even as confusion reigns among NASA supporters as to what next after the approval of the motions.

Opposition supremo Raila Odinga has also called upon Western powers to support NASA’s push for electoral reforms and a fresh election to be held in the country within 90 days, saying that the reforms are for the good of the country.

The opposition chief wants Kenyatta to step aside and pave the way for formation of an interim government that would run the country for six months while the Constitution is reviewed to limit the president’s authority.