Why did Raila Odinga oppose the proposed Kenyan constitution in 2005?

Raila Odinga opposed the draft constitution in the 2005 referendum primarily because it failed to fulfill earlier political agreements regarding the structure of government.

During the 2002 election, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) had reportedly promised to share power equitably and create a strong prime minister position. However, President Mwai Kibaki and his supporters subsequently backtracked on these commitments. The draft constitution presented to the public in 2005 provided for a weak prime minister and a strong presidency, which contradicted the reforms Odinga and his allies had advocated for during the constitutional review process.1

Furthermore, the defeat of the proposed constitution was widely viewed as a public protest against the Kibaki administration, which had been embroiled in corruption scandals that year. Odinga successfully led the campaign against the draft, which resulted in its rejection by voters. Following this defeat, Kibaki dismissed his entire cabinet, excluding Odinga and his supporters from the reconstituted government.21