KENYANS TURN UP IN CBD TO SIGN FOR A REFERENDUM TO REDUCE COUNTIES FROM 47 TO 8 ||ERIC OMONDI ARREST

Duration: 8:06 707 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

Eric Omondi has mobilized crowds in the Central Business District to collect signatures for a proposed referendum aimed at drastically restructuring Kenya's governance system by reducing the number of counties from 47 to just eight. The core argument presented is that this consolidation is necessary to lift the heavy financial and administrative burden currently placed on ordinary Kenyans, who are forced to pay taxes supporting multiple officials performing identical roles. By merging these local units, the initiative seeks to eliminate redundant positions such as senators, women representatives, nominated members, and many county assembly members (MCAs), leaving only a single Member of Parliament per region to ensure clear accountability. The speaker passionately illustrates the current chaos caused by this duplication of roles, where citizens are left confused about who is responsible for public services like road maintenance or bridge construction. He describes a scenario where an individual approaches an MCA, only to be told it is the governor's job, and then approaches the governor, who deflects responsibility to the national government. This lack of clear ownership, he argues, creates an environment akin to having three presidents in one country, which inevitably leads to corruption and theft because no single person can be held accountable for the welfare of their constituency. To combat this systemic inefficiency and restore order, the campaign urges citizens to sign the petition before leaving the venue, framing it as a critical step toward national improvement. The atmosphere is energetic and somewhat chaotic, with organizers taking photos of supporters for a fee while encouraging everyone to participate regardless of their background or gender, though some humorous confusion arises regarding entry fees based on skin tone or facial hair. Despite the disorganized nature of the event and the repetitive calls for signatures, the underlying message remains consistent: reducing the number of elected officials will streamline governance, stop the bleeding of public funds through redundancy, and ensure that every citizen knows exactly who is responsible for building their community.

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Three beautiful ladies, don't look down on your signature, it will change this country; that one signature is what gets us to 1 million, so just sign, bro , don't look down on it. Before you leave here, sign it. Before you leave here, sign it. Before you leave there, man, it’s all good, before you leave here, sign it. For those passing by, you hear the voice of Eric Omondi saying we are here at the Archives to reduce the counties from 47 to 8. We will only have eight governors, and we won't have senators, or women reps, or nominated members, and we will reduce the MCAs. And we are doing this to lift the burden off the heads and backs of Kenyans, whether you like it or not, whether you know it or not; the taxes you pay support many people doing the same job. They are doing the same work; it is called duplication of roles. For those passing by your areas, look at your roads, let me ask you: The MCA? If you go to the MCA, they'll say it's the governor's job; if you go to the governor, they'll say it's the national government's. Now, as a Kenyan, you don't know, but if we have just one person—remove the governor, remove the woman rep, remove the MCA— everyone—and keep just the MP, we can say, "Hey, you are the one who should build this bridge, we've got you." But right now, they'll look at you and tell you, "Hey, that's not me." You know, from here to there is the governor's. Mine is from here, and that's it for him. Now you don't know who is responsible because there are too many people. It’s like if we had three presidents here in Kenya. There is only one president; you see, when you have too many people, theft creeps in. Theft creeps in. So please, let's add our signatures. I'm told there's another event starting here soon. Please, let's add our signatures. Have you signed? Come, let's take a photo. You guys are getting photos. Take your selfie, ma'am , give yours, not just yours alone. Just yours is fine. It's going to be a battle, it's coming, it will be wild, it will be like Arsenal and Man U, you know I'm very crazy. Okay, the photo is 10 shillings. Ah. If you are dark-skinned, it’s ten . If you have a beard, it’s ten. The ladies are free. From primary level to the university. Very possible, very. Come with. This is too much, man, this is too. It is like. We will try. Level to the university. Very possible, very, MCA. If you go to the MCA, he will tell you that is for the governor. If you go to the governor, he will say that is the national government. Now, as a Kenyan, you don't know, but if we have just one person—remove the governor, remove the woman rep, remove the MCA— everyone—and keep just the MP, we can say, "Hey, you are the one who should build this bridge, we've got you." But right now, he will also look at you and say, "Hey, that's not me." You know from here to there is the governor's. Mine is from here, and that's it for him. Now you don't know because there are too many people. It is like if we had three presidents here in Kenya. There is only one president; you see, when you have too many people, theft creeps in. Theft creeps in. Please, let's put a signature. I'm told there's another event about to start here. Please, let's put a signature. You've put it, let me take a picture. We are already competing in pictures. Take your selfie, ma'am, give yours, not just ours, yours alone. Yours alone, there it is. Yeah. You can, ma'am, we will compete, it's coming, yeah, it will be tough, like Arsenal and Man U, uh, you know I'm a very tough one. Okay , the picture is 10 shillings. Ah. If you're dark-skinned it's 30. If you have a beard it's. Beautiful ladies are free. Too much, man, this is too much, one. Sign. Is. Let's go, we'll see.