With 2022 drawing near, different political leaders with interests in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta have been seen to have already started campaigning.
Deputy President Dr William Ruto leads in early campaigns despite warning from the head of state. This has prompted the emergence of two factions within ruling party Jubilee, the team kieleweke and Tanga tanga.
But will these campaigns add any value come 2022? Well, the country could be headed for a parliamentary system of government with the Prime Minister being head of government, if proposals by the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) that mirror recommendations in the Bomas draft are implemented.
According to one of the local dailies, the preliminary report was reportedly shared with the principals last week and the team will retreat to write the final report next month.
The Standard reports that preliminary report proposes a Cabinet appointed from among MPs of not more than 20 ministers, including two deputy Prime Ministers, reintroduces deputy ministers, raises allocations to counties to 45 per cent and recommends a reduction of the number of MPs to 209 from 416.
The 12-member team tasked to propose measures to end ethnic antagonism every election year, wants the President to be elected by a three-tier Electoral College through a secret ballot for a non-renewable term of seven years.
Alternatively, the team proposes that the election of the President be by direct adult suffrage through a secret ballot on the Tuesday immediately preceding the 21 days before the expiry of the term of the sitting President.
The President shall be the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.
According to BBI, the national executive authority of the republic shall be exercised in accordance with the Constitution by, or on the authority of, the President and the Prime Minister together with the rest of the Cabinet.
“The President shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of that office on the advice of the Cabinet unless this constitution states otherwise,” the proposal reads in part.
The team suggests that the President shall appoint and may dismiss the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers and the ministers.
Other officials appointed or fired by the President are deputy ministers, judges of the superior courts and any other State or public officer who is appointed by the President.
The team proposes that the deputy president shall be the principal assistant and shall not serve for more than two terms.
Leave a Comment