Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi over the weekend expressed concern over the looming constitutional amendments backed by ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
The referendum push is part of the building bridges task force agenda but the ANC leader fears changes to the law would easily grant President Kenyatta an extended stay in power.
Mudavadi who has decried a weakened opposition following the March handshake between Uhuru and Odinga says the push for amendments to the law faces the risk of being clouded by 2022 politics.
[caption caption="Musalia Mudavadi meets Raila Odinga "]
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He said the amendments if any should be done within two years before the 2022 general elections so as to allow room for legislation on laws likely to be affected by intended changes.
“Those who remember, after the law was changed in the nineties, it allowed President Moi to serve another 10 years in office after he had finished 14 years. This could be repeated," warned the ANC party leader.
Prior to the 1992 multi-party democracy inception, amendments to the law saw former president Daniel Moi run for the presidency for another two five-year terms despite having taken over in 1978.
He insisted the amendments should ward off any possibility of allowing president Kenyatta to once again contest in the next general elections.
Musalia, while eyeing the presidency in 2022 has a daunting task to muscle support for his bid given he sits in a rather silent opposition.
He admitted that; "The handshake has temporarily disoriented the opposition, and this has weakened the oversight role it played. It is becoming difficult to challenge the government, which is not a good thing for the country."
According to Mudavadi, the approach to the role of the opposition as stands currently remains conflicted by the move by ODM party's unclear stand and would impact governance and democracy negatively.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta with opposition leader Raila Odinga "]
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He further appealed for the formation on a task force that would help probe a series of corruption scandals such as the contraband sugar and contraband commodity business that have gripped the Kenyan economy.
