Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has warned Kenyans on the changes in the Building Bridges Initiative proposed referendum.
Speaking to a Kenyan media house, the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) Vice Chairman expressed concern on the proposed amendments to the 2010 Constitution claiming BBI was whittling down on gains made by Kenyans.
Mr Lissu jetted into the country on June 24th, 2021 from Europe where he sought refuge after losing the October 2020 Presidential elections to the now-deceased Tanzanian President John Magufuli.
Tanzanian Opposition leader Tundu Lissu / Photo Courtesy
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On Friday, June 25th, Tundu Lissu launched his new book “Remaining in the Shadows – Parliament and Accountability in East Africa” at a Nairobi hotel.
Hailed as one of Africa's most resilient opposition leaders, Mr Lissu was concerned that BBI would drive the country down the same path as his native Tanzania.
"The key Constitutional problem that I see in Kenya, and that has bedevilled Kenya since 1964 is presidentialism," Mr Lissu said during the Monday night interview. "In my reading, what BBI does is to augment rather than whittle away the presidential powers.”
This is clearly a view not shared by proponents of the initiative who claim that BBI will make the executive more inclusive.
Mr Lissu, a lawyer, said that the one thing that stood out the most during his reading of the BBI was the creation of a Prime Minister's post.
There would be no difference between Kenya and Tanzania if this happened Tundu Lissu went on to say. "He has no power and is a presidential appointee like any other District Commissioner," he added.
"You Kenyans should do better than copy Tanzania," Lissu said as he finalised the interview.
The proposed BBI referendum is hanging in the balance after a High Court ruling in late May 2021 declared the process unconstitutional.
An appeal was filed with the hearings kicking off at the Appellate Court early on Wednesday 29th June 2021.
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