Executive Order sought to depoliticise delivery of development agenda

Executive Orders (EOs) are powerful directives issued by the Executive branch. They are a regular feature of the exercise of presidential powers in presidential systems. In the United States, for instance, President Barack Obama signed a total 276 EOs during his tenure. President Trump signed 18 within 12 days of his reign. President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed less than 10 in his six years in power.

Some Executive Orders are controversial, some procedural while others simply reverse orders signed by prior presidents. In the hierarchy of legal force, therefore, such orders rank below the Constitution or statute. The latest EO by Uhuru styled “Framework for coordination and implementation of national government development programmes and projects” has drawn interest.