One of the opposition's two major outlets has called the referendum a "constitutional coup" because the poll was neither free, fair, impartial nor transparent" and took place "under siege conditions". 
Vyombo viwili vikuu vya habari vinavyomilikiwa na vyama vya upinzani vimeita kura hiyo ya maoni "Mapinduzi ya kikatiba" kwa sababu kura hiyo haikuwa huru, wala haki, ilijaa upendeleo bila uwazi" na ilifanyika "katika mazingira ya utekaji".