Siaya Senator James Orengo on Monday, termed Deputy William Ruto's call for a referendum insincere.
Speaking in Mombasa, Orengo stated that Ruto’s remarks that he would only support a referendum if it was not aimed at creating positions for Opposition leaders showed he was not aware why Kenya needed to amend the document.
Orengo noted, “He says he supports (a referendum) but quickly says he does not support it if the agenda is about creating positions for the Opposition."
He added, "It has nothing to do with positions; it is about making the systems better. He is not sincere.”
He urged the DP to take a look at the Okoa Bill, which was drafted by the NASA leadership in the run-up to last year’s General Election.
Orengo noted that NASA had produced a document under the auspices of Okoa Kenya, with recommendations and eventually drafted a Bill for purposes of a referendum.
He claimed that their efforts to see the initiative through were frustrated by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Orengo stated that the Bill which was developed by Okoa Kenya raised issues among them devolution, in respect to resources allocation, inclusivity in government appointments, changing the electoral justice and the issue of security in the country.
“We wanted to have counties receiving a higher percentage of resources from the national government," the Siaya Senator stated.
"Issue two was meritocracy be a basis of appointing people into State jobs, three, we wanted to have a just electoral system by strengthening IEBC and generally the issue of security in our country by having police officers adhere to the Bill of Rights,” he added.
Over the weekend, the Deputy President made an about turn in opposing the referendum stating he would support the agenda if it will ease the burden for Kenyans.
