National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and the senate majority leader Murkomen today presented there thesis on the Building Bridges initiative to the BBI committee.
While presenting to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) panel, Mr Muturi said that Kenyans directly elect leaders and this lead to wrangles after election.
“In order to build a bridge that allows us to transcend the pitfalls of heavily contested presidential elections, it is proposed to remove election of the president by universal suffrage. Instead, the popular will of the people manifested through one man one vote should be actuated through the nomination of the president by the party that garners majority votes at the General Election,” Mr Muturi told the BBI team.
On governors, the Speaker wants each party to nominate three people qualified to hold office and send the names to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before the polls.
MR Murkomen accompanied by minority leader James Orengo and other leaders from the senate also earlier presented their thesis a move that could see its roles significantly strengthened.
In a march for power led by Senate Majority Leader senators asked the 14-member BBI steering committee to ensure that their roles are not only well defined, but also protected.
The Senate wants both Houses to be given full legislative mandate and not just limited to Bills concerning counties.
The Senate said, should only be left to approve nominees to offices such as Cabinet Secretary, Attorney-General, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, and Principal Secretaries.
“If CSs are to be picked from members of the National Assembly, then it should be upon the Senate to vet and approve those picked from outside the House, as well as their removal processes,” Mr Murkomen said in the Senate’s presentations.
“If the Senate is not going to provide any CSs, and it’s better that way, then the Senate should be made the House of accountability as far as this office is concerned.”
Mr Murkomen said the proposal by the BBI team for a mixed cabinet “is a tough balancing act” that must be strengthened by ensuring that accountability avenues are working.
On the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Senate wants it split and one such Commission for both Houses set up.
Kenyans are still not sure on what will come out of the BBI report as the Right Honorable Raila Odinga push for a referendum as soon as possible.
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