Most Kenyans Against Vote on Changing Constitution, Star Reports

(Bloomberg) -- About 56 percent of Kenyans are opposed to a proposed referendum on changes to the East Africa nation’s constitution, according to a survey funded by the local Star newspaper.

Some Kenyan politicians including opposition leader Raila Odinga are calling for constitutional revisions to address what they describe as a bloated executive and the government’s failure to adequately devolve power. The demands come after Kenya’s 2017 disputed election led to months of political uncertainty.

The poll for the Nairobi-based newspaper, conducted Oct. 12-14 and published Monday, canvased the views of a thousand people aged between 18 and 49.

Kenya adopted a new charter in 2010 that sought to divide political power among dozens of ethnic groups and end quarrels including over land distribution. Communities in Odinga’s western heartland have long complained that they’ve been excluded from high office, while regions far from Nairobi have complained of underdevelopment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eric Ombok in Nairobi at eombok@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Christopher Kingdon at ckingdon@bloomberg.net, Michael Gunn, Helen Nyambura

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