Stop chest-thumping and listen to Ruto’s proposals

Deputy President William Ruto, who has singled out himself as the de facto political leader of those holding contrarian views on the proposed constitutional reforms, has come up with strong propositions to remedy the review process and win over the opponents.

It is easy for the loud-mouthed and vindictive politicians to dismiss him outright. Perhaps typifying him as a perpetual irritant, gadfly or a politician with an explicable sense of entitlement intent on getting his way on every matter.

Others are likely to aver that it is too late in the day to make changes, asking where he had been all along with the proposals.

But beneath those skepticisms and cynicism, it is crucial to listen and reflect deeply on the issues.

From the outset, Mr Ruto has expressed appreciation that the Building Bridges Initiatives Task Force and drafters of consequential laws have been listening to diverse views being expressed at every stage. He also reiterated the desire for consensus ahead of the referendum to avoid acrimony. 

Some of the issues he has raised and which have repeatedly been articulated by other organised groups like faiths and civil society, include protecting the independence of institutions, namely, the Judiciary and the police service.

More poignantly is the discontent over expansion of the Executive and the Legislature by creating new positions to accommodate political interest and resolve perceived socio-structural and traditional imbalances such as gender disparity in representative politics.

For us, these issues have a strong correlation with democracy and economic stability. They cannot be wished away.

However, we are not convinced about the proposal on framing of referendum questions – multi-layering and requiring individual voting on each. That works in the realms of theoretical academics; not practical mass voting.

While we acknowledge that there is no time for back-and-forth debates about the constitutional reforms, where there are outstanding matters and whose resolution can create a win-win situation, we aver; they should be adopted.