DP Dr William Ruto scheduled to speak at Chatham House

DP Ruto scheduled to give lecture in London

Mumbi Mutuko

04 February 2019 04:55 PM

DP Dr William Ruto to hold a lecture in London

Deputy President William Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto will be speaking at Chatham House in the United Kingdom.

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The event which will b broadcasted live from London will see the DP addressing the calls for a referendum and managing a diverse country such as the Kenyan society.

Chatham House Pulse Live Kenya

"At this event, HE William Ruto, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, will reflect on the challenges of managing change in a diverse country, and the outlook ahead for both Kenya and the wider region," a statement from Chantham House read in part.

Referendum

Kenyans have been split on the calls for constitutional reforms through a referendum, an Infotrak survey conducted in December 2018, showed.

According to the survey, the constitutional change call was supported by 44 per cent of Kenyans but opposed by 45 per cent while another 12 per cent were still undecided.

Those who support the constitutional were highest in Central (55 per cent) which is President Uhuru Kenyatta political backyard, opposition leader Raila Odinga’s home turf of Nyanza (52 per cent) and Nairobi (46 per cent).

However, the referendum faced opposition in Deputy President William Ruto’s support base in Rift Valley (53 per cent), Eastern (51 per cent) and the Western region at 47 per cent.

Opposing

Those supporting the call for law change cited the need to reduce the number of elective positions to tame public expenditure, especially the huge budget allocation for elected officials.

They also said that a referendum would help seal constitutional loopholes, achieve equality and inclusivity in government.

A person casting their ballot Pulse Live Kenya

However, those opposed to the referendum call queried its timing, cost and perceived self-interest in those pushing for the law change.

Those supporting DP Ruto have always opposed the clamour for a referendum, saying it was meant to create positions for a few leaders and is being used as a plan to derail their 2022 march to State House.