Azimio leader Raila Odinga has suggested that the upcoming national dialogue on issues raised by Gen Z could pave the way for a constitutional review.
Odinga argued that it is time to revisit the 2010 Constitution to address existing shortcomings. He emphasized that a thorough review, and potential amendments, could facilitate progressive reforms for the nation.
During his remarks at the burial of Lawyer Evans Orwenjo in Alego Usonga on Saturday, Raila criticized the manipulation of the original Bomas draft constitution, which he claimed was significantly altered during the Naivasha process.
“Kenyans worked diligently at the Bomas of Kenya to create a progressive constitution, but it was compromised during the so-called Naivasha process,” Raila said. “We need to revisit the Bomas draft, reassess it, and make necessary adjustments to achieve a truly progressive constitution.”
Raila also highlighted that the issues raised by the Gen Z protesters—such as corruption, unemployment, the high cost of living, debt management, and discrimination—align with concerns that ODM has been addressing since last year’s protests. He called for these issues to be integrated with proposals from political parties to shape a better future for Kenya.
The Bomas Draft, formulated under the Constitution of Kenya Review Act of 1997 during President Daniel Moi’s tenure, proposed a bicameral legislature and an executive led by a premier from the largest party in Parliament. However, it faced strong opposition from then-President Kibaki and was later revised.
Following the 2007/2008 post-election crisis, the Committee of Experts was tasked with integrating previous drafts into a new constitution. The 2009 Harmonised Draft Constitution, which built on the Bomas Draft, also faced political challenges. Ultimately, the document was diluted during the Naivasha deliberations, resulting in the Revised Harmonised Draft Constitution, which, despite its compromises, retained key elements of the original proposals.
