Kenya may be on the verge of another push for constitutional amendments following former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s loss in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson election. Thirdway Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot has predicted that efforts to alter the Constitution will likely be reignited to accommodate Odinga within President William Ruto’s administration.
Odinga, who was heavily backed by President Ruto and his government, lost the AUC chairperson race to Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf on Saturday. In the aftermath, political discourse has shifted towards the possibility of a constitutional referendum, with Ruto’s allies suggesting a new governance structure that includes a prime minister post.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Day Break program on Thursday, Aukot drew parallels between the current political climate and previous initiatives like the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO). “I foresee a referendum coming, the legislation of NADCO or BBI for the purposes of accommodating Raila Odinga,” Aukot stated.
BBI, introduced in 2018 as a reconciliation effort between then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga, proposed significant constitutional changes, including the creation of a prime minister position, two deputy prime ministers, and an official opposition leader role. Critics saw these moves as strategies to integrate Odinga into Kenyatta’s administration. However, the High Court nullified the initiative in 2021, citing unconstitutionality.
Similarly, NADCO emerged after the violent anti-government protests of 2023, when Ruto and Odinga agreed to engage in dialogue. This initiative also recommended the introduction of a prime minister and an official opposition leader to stabilize the country’s political landscape.
Despite his five unsuccessful presidential bids, Odinga remains a key political figure. Aukot, however, dismissed him as a “constant political failure” while acknowledging his influence. “This is the most failed regime in Kenya’s history, and for them to continue being in that slumber, they would rather bring the biggest noisemaker who can mobilize a revolt on the streets,” Aukot remarked.
Prominent Ruto allies, including Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and Belgut MP Nelson Koech, have openly advocated for constitutional amendments to create a prime minister position, which they argue should be assigned to Odinga. However, such a change requires a referendum under the oversight of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which remains unconstituted since its commissioners left office in 2023.
As Kenya awaits further political maneuvers, the debate over constitutional changes underscores the enduring influence of Raila Odinga in the country’s political affairs.
