Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has backed down from its push for the creation of a powerful prime minister post.
Instead, the party now wants the law changed to have a prime minister appointed by the President.
Presenting its proposals to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) steering committee yesterday, ODM said the prime minister should be the leader of government business in the National Assembly under the direction of the president.
“Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the prime minister shall be accountable to the president for the exercise of his authority,” said ODM Chairman John Mbadi.
Maendeleo Chap Chap Party (MCCP) also rooted for the creation of a prime minister's post and two deputies, who should come from different ethnic communities.
The party's leader, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, said it was advocating for sharing and dispersal of power and resources.
“We restate our position that to create ethnic harmony, minimise conflict during and after elections, we must amend the constitution to create the position of president, deputy president, prime minister and two deputies, and require that they come from different ethnic communities. They should be in charge of specific portfolios and decision making should be consultative,” said Dr Mutua.
Joint ticket
Mutua proposed that to ensure harmony, persons aspiring to run for the top seats should do so on a joint ticket in a political party or a coalition of political parties.
“They should not emerge based on a number of seats won by a political party as currently proposed in the BBI report,” said Mutua.
ODM also wants the electoral team overhauled and a new one put in place to preside over the next elections.
Mbadi argued that in restructuring the electoral body, party leaders should nominate the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners for appointment by the president.
“We support observations and recommendations in the BBI report, with special emphasis on restructuring of the IEBC to pave way for a new commission to conduct the next elections,” said Mbadi.
The party also proposed that IEBC chairperson be the commission’s chief executive officer to avoid two centres of power.
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