Poll shows Kenyans want executive president or elected premier

By Lucianne Limo and Kipchumba Some

Majority of Kenyans are unhappy with the Executive provisions as proposed in the Harmonized Draft Constitution, a new survey has shown.

The study by Synovate pollster reveals 62 per cent of citizens do not support power sharing between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The respondents polled are not enthusiastic with the idea of a popularly elected president delegating powers to a premier.

It also shows Kenyans (13 per cent) not happy with the inclusion of the Kadhi’s court in the draft while five per cent are not comfortable with the abolishing of the Provincial Administration and ‘legalisation’ of gay marriage.

And four per cent of the respondents support legalisation of abortion and women owning and inheriting land.

Referendum

Although 64 per cent of respondents admitted to not being familiar with the contents of the draft, 43 per cent said they would vote for the draft if a referendum was held today.

The poll results show the draft would sail through if it was subjected to a referendum today. Only 29 per cent said they would not vote in a referendum.

Interestingly, 37 per cent of those polled were noncommittal.

Supporters allied to ODM and affiliate parties were more supportive of the draft constitution at 44 per cent compared to 32 per cent of PNU.

Majority of the public (60 per cent) support direct election of a premier and 57 per cent say we would rather have a powerful president who does not delegate Executive powers to the PM.

However, the public does not mind a powerful PM elected from the largest party in the House (36 per cent support it).

"Kenyans want to be associated with the most powerful person whom they voted for as opposed to leaving it to MPs whom they do not trust to appoint him," said Tom Wolf, Synovate Director.

Optimism

Even as the political class seems hitting deadlock in the quest for a new constitution, majority of Kenyans are optimistic this year will be better than last year.

On the issues facing Kenyans, 74 per cent were unhappy with the way the Government is dealing with food prices, 61 per cent are dissatisfied with high unemployment rate and 50 per cent said the Government had let them down in dealing with high rate of crime.