Mounting calls for a referendum to change the Kenyan Constitution in order to rearrange the executive structure, strengthen devolution and fix election related conflicts have divided political leaders disagreeing in opinions.
ODM has since made radical recommendations to the handshake team, including a single seven-year term for the next head of state and a Parliament smaller by half.
The proposals that would trigger a referendum are likely to be the next battlefront between ODM leader Raila Odinga and his political nemesis, Deputy President William Ruto.
While opposition leader Raila Odinga insists that the country must hold a referendum, Deputy President William Ruto is opposed to it, saying it would put the country in perpetual election mode.
In sweeping changes, the Orange Party proposes drastically slashing the size of the bicameral Parliament from 416 to 208 lawmakers. It wants the Senate empowered as the Upper House. Nominated seats would be abolished in both houses.
Raila’s party also proposes a parliamentary system of government and a three-tier government structure with 14 regional blocs.
According to the proposal, the 14 regional blocs, each made of several counties, will elect a Regional Premier and deputy.
In an effort to either enforce or scuttle the call for a referendum, various MPs are coming up with proposals for constitutional amendments in parliament, mainly to reduce the size of the executive and parliament.
Ndia MP George Kariuki proposed to have counties reduced from 47 to 12 and the number of senators to 24. The initiatives by political party Third Way Alliance and civil society seek to reduce the public wage bill, which takes the lion’s share of the country’s budget in the wake of increased taxes.
The opposition outfit also wants the Directorate of Criminal Investigations delinked from the command of the national police and made a constitutional agency.
It wants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission abolished.
The 14-pages of internal proposals seen by the Star are among suggestions by Raila’s political machine that is to be presented to the 14-member Building Bridges Initiative.
The Building Bridges task force has started public hearings across the country and its final report could alter the country’s political terrain ahead of the 2022 General Election.
“We wish to reiterate that the document remains a discussion paper to stimulate conversation that will lead to the formulation of a national ODM Party position that will be presented to the BBI Task Force at the appropriate time,” Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said after the document leaked.
The head of state would be barred from seeking reelection.
Do you support or oppose the radical changes?