National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga on Friday asked Kenyans to ignore Tiaty Member of Parliament William Kamket over his proposal to create the position of a Prime Minister.
Speaking on the Bill tabled in the National Assembly by the legislator, Odinga stated that Kenyans should treat the proposal as a side-show and an attempt by Jubilee to scuttle NASA's quest for electoral justice that entails fundamental reforms to the way elections are conducted.
"The MP is a mere agent of vested interest and the forces of impunity that NASA is keen to dismantle," he asserted.
[caption caption="File image of Tiaty MP William Kamket"]
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The Opposition leader emphasized that the bill is a clear indicator that the leaders of the opposite divide have an intention of crippling NASA's efforts of taking Kenya forward.
Addressing the state of affairs in the country and emerging issues in the coalition, Odinga mentioned that the changes that the coalition is seeking are contained in the Bomas Draft Constitution.
According to a recent report, the bill that seeks to extend the President's term in office and also introduce the position of a powerful Prime Minister will cost Kenyans Sh22 Billion for its implementation.
The proposal noted that the President will be a ceremonial figure and will serve for a single seven-year term as the amendment seeks to limit his role as Head of State and a symbol of national unity.
In its brief to the Budget and Appropriations committee, the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), claimed that Sh20 Billion will be used for a referendum because the amendment sought to touch on Article 255 of the Constitution, while Sh2 Billion will be the additional cost to be used for running the Executive.
PBO stated that in case the referendum does not go through, a lot will be lost but if the bill sails through the vote, the cost of subsequent elections will be reduced by Sh11.2 Billion, an equivalent of 25 percent.
According to PBO, the 2017 election cost taxpayers Sh45 Billion and if the proposed changes are adopted, the cost of 2022 election will be Sh33.7 Billion because Kenyans will not be voting for the position of President and the Deputy President.
[caption caption="File image of NASA leader Raila Odinga and other opposition leaders."]
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