IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY

…How imperial president could make comeback

NAIROBI - Kenyans will have an influential president with sweeping powers to hire and fire his Cabinet at will, should proposed changes pass through a referendum.

The much-publicised Building Bridges Initiatives (BBI) report received by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga at Kisii State Lodge, proposes a Head of State who will appoint the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister and two deputies.

The president will have the last say in appointing the PM from the Majority party in the National Assembly, as he/she will nominate the candidate for approval and if rejected a second time, he/she will proceed to choose the person without further reference to the House.

“The PM may be dismissed by the President or through a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly,” reads the report.

The report by the Steering Committee, chaired by Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji, also seeks to have a mixed Cabinet composed of Members of the National

Assembly and technocrats and exonerates principal secretaries (PSs) from parliamentary vetting.

This will be a departure from the current pure presidential system, where ministers are appointed outside parliament and work at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

However, it closely mirrors the independent constitution, which had a hybrid system of government and was overwhelmingly voted out by Kenyans in 2010, ushering the present constitution.

On Wednesday, Uhuru and Raila drummed up support for the document, saying it is not just creating positions for individuals but addressing challenges ailing the nation. – THE STANDARD, Kenya.