NAIROBI, Kenya— Former Makueni Governor and constitutional expert Prof. Kivutha Kibwana has criticised a recent proposal by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to hold a constitutional referendum alongside the 2027 general election, accusing political leaders of prioritising self-interest and the creation of new political offices over genuine governance reform.
Mudavadi, speaking in a year-end media interview in Nairobi, suggested that unresolved constitutional issues, including proposals from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report such as the question of a substantive Prime Minister and broader inclusivity reforms, could be subjected to a referendum question at the 2027 polls.
“The political elite are still hungering for the NADCO Prime Minister, 2 DPMs, Assistant Ministers to solidify ethnic politics. Citizens and even Prezo said NO to BBI,” Kibwana said.
He described the combination of an election and a referendum as a way to settle longstanding debates that Parliament and the courts have struggled to resolve, boost voter participation, and save taxpayers money by holding the two exercises concurrently.
“As the nation prepares for the next general election, there are constitutional matters like gender representation, governance structure, and unresolved NADCO recommendations that deserve direct public engagement,” Mudavadi said, urging that discussions begin in 2026 ahead of the election year.
However, Prof. Kibwana argues that the push for a referendum is less about democratic deepening and more about entrenching positions for the political elite.
PCS @MusaliaMudavadi recently proposed that in 2027 we hold a general election and a referendum. The political elite are still hungering for the NADCO Prime Minister, 2 DPMs, Assistant Ministers to solidify ethnic politics. Citizens and even Prezo said NO to BBI #jobsForBoys.
In a statement released on social media, the constitutionalist said that Kenyans have already rejected similar reform efforts, notably the 2021-22 Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which was struck down by the courts and rebuffed by public opinion.
Kibwana insists that politicians are now using the 2027 polls as a vehicle to repackage controversial structural changes that would create new positions such as a Prime Minister, multiple Deputy Prime Ministers and assistant ministerial roles, which he says risk further entrenching ethnic-based politics and patronage.
He wonders why Kenyans be asked again to decide on the same kind of constitutional architecture that citizens and even the President explicitly said No to during the BBI process.
Critics have long warned that proposals to introduce more top offices effectively expand the political elite, creating more seats for political patronage rather than genuine reform.
BOUNDARIES CRISIS LOOMS ”I find it necessary to speak the truth about a looming Constitutional Storm because as a country, we are staring at a massive legal crisis; this is the potential nullification of the 2027. Our 2010 Constitution demands a boundaries review every 8 to 12
