Two power centres recipe for confusion, says Kanu

By Isaiah Lucheli and Francis Ngige

Kanu will not support the Harmonised Draft Constitution as long as it provides for two centres of power.

Party National Executive Committee members said presidential and premiership powers were a recipe for confusion.

They said whoever wields executive powers should be directly elected by the people.

"We are not opposed to the Prime Minister or the President wielding executive powers... whoever it is must be given the mandate by the people of Kenya through the ballot," said Marsden Madoka at a press conference after the committee’s meeting.

Kanu Vice-Chairman Gideon Moi, Cabinet Minister Sam Ongeri and former MPs Justin Muturi and Nick Salat attended the meeting at the party headquarters.

Madoka said the party had set up a committee to look into contentious issues in the draft like land and devolution. "There should be sufficient checks and balances," said the Kanu vice-chairman.

Gideon said the committee should have produced two drafts, one giving the premier powers and the other the president for voters to choose, but regretted that the review Act did not allow such a move.

"All contentious issues should be ironed out to facilitate the release of a new constitution," said Gideon.

Madoka said the party would hold its election in January and February next year and that the party would celebrate 50 years since its inception the same year.

Ministry and Knut

Elsewhere, the Ministry of Education urged the Kenya National Union of Teachers to give its proposals to the Committee of Experts.

Assistant Minister Calista Mwatela said the ministry was ready to discuss with teachers before presenting their proposals to the experts.

Mwatela said since Knut was a major stakeholder in the education sector and a key pillar towards development, its views could not be ignored.

"We advise the union to make proposals to the committee if it has issues with the provisions of the draft..." constitution," said Mwatela.

Speaking in Nyeri, Mwatela said some of the issues being raised were non-contentious and easy to resolve.

 

 

Read all about: KANU Presidency Committee of Experts

 

 

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