Eric Omondi Claims Gen Z Campaign Has Collected 430,000 Signatures for Referendum to Cut Counties

Stand-up comedian and human rights activist Eric Omondi has claimed that his Gen Z-led campaign has so far collected more than 430,000 signatures in support of a constitutional referendum seeking to reduce the number of counties in Kenya.

Speaking during an interview with a local media outlet on Thursday, July 9, 2026, Omondi said the initiative still needs about 500,000 more signatures before it can proceed to the next stage.

“I have over 430,000 signatures from Gen Zs. We just need to do another 500,000, and then we have a referendum to reduce counties from 47 to the former eight,” Omondi claimed.

The comedian said the proposed referendum is intended to restructure Kenya’s governance system by eliminating several elective and appointed positions that he considers unnecessary.

“We are going to do away with women reps, senators, nominated members, Cabinet secretaries, and all those unnecessary seats,” he said.

Omondi argued that Kenya’s current governance structure has become too costly because of what he described as excessive representation at both the national and county levels.

“I have been saying we are going to have a new Kenya; we have a problem in both national and county levels. Our biggest cancer is the county devolution,” he said.

While acknowledging that devolution was introduced with good intentions, Omondi maintained that it has failed to deliver its original objectives.

“Raila Amollo Odinga had the best idea for this country: let’s devolve development, but we ended up devolving corruption, nepotism, and tribalism,” he said.

He further argued that the large number of public officials representing citizens has created opportunities for misuse of public resources.

“We have over-representation, which results in misappropriation,” Omondi said.

“One Kenyan is represented by 18 people; one Kenyan has a president, deputy president, prime cabinet secretary, governor, deputy governor, senator, women’s rep, MP, nominated MP, nominated senator, MCA, regional commissioner, county director, chief, assistant chief, village elder, Nyumba Kumi and still has 22 cabinet secretaries.”