The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Monday okayed a proposed bill by Homa Bay Town legislator Peter Kaluma seeking for a referendum to divide Kenya into 2 countries.
In his reply, the Commission chair Wafula Chebukati noted that the MP was at liberty to proceed with the push for a referendum so long as it is done within the confines of the law.
Mr Kaluma has drafted the bill seeking the secession of 40 counties from the existing 47 to form the People’s Republic of Kenya.
[caption caption="File image of IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati and CEO Ezra Chiloba"]
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In the Bill, the legislator claimed that the current government had "rigged elections, emasculated Parliament, commissions and independent offices, and had run a systemic suppression of the other groups and communities".
The MP further explained that a section of the country had been alienated and devolution frustrated by the current regime.
"The objective of the Bill is, therefore, to amend the Constitution to split to allow for the creation of a new state to give effect to the aspirations of the people of Kenya,” Kaluma's bill reads in part.
According to the proposal, the People's Republic of Kenya would include major counties such as Nairobi , Mombasa all counties in the Rift Valley, Western and the Coastal region.
The seven counties that would form the Central Republic of Kenya are Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi.
Following the approval by IEBC, Kaluma now has two options he can use moving forward.
[caption caption="File of MP Peter Kaluma"]
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First, the bill can be tabled to Parliament where it will require two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly (233 of the 349) and the Senate (45 of the 67) to support it.
If the right numbers are attained, the bill will be forwarded to the President who will ask the IEBC to conduct a referendum in 90 days.
Secondly, Kaluma can collect one million signatures from Kenyans which will then be certified by the polls agency after which it will be forwarded to all the 47 county assemblies and 24 would have to support it.
If the Bill goes past the county assemblies, it will be tabled in Parliament where the above-mentioned regulations apply.
