Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has backed the proposal to expand the executive arm of government to include a Prime Minister.
In his memorandum to the Building Bridges team, Kuria proposes a structure comprising the President, Deputy President, Prime Minister, two deputy Prime Ministers. The changes require a referendum to be effected.
Kuria has proposed to the Wajir Senator Yusuf Haji-led task force that each party presenting candidates in a presidential election shall present a team of five candidates.
He suggests that the persons nominated for President and Deputy President shall not be members of Parliament.
The legislator adds that a candidate fielded for the Prime Minister’s post may vie as MP or be nominated automatically if the presidential candidate in his/her party wins.
For the Deputy Prime Minister post, Kuria proposes that there be two slots – one held by a person eligible for election as MP and the other by a person eligible for election as senator.
"The second deputy Prime Minister who may vie as a member of the Senate and who, if not be elected, will automatically become a nominated member of the Senate if the President wins," he says.
The MP adds that not more than one candidate for the above positions shall be from the same ethnic community. "The Prime Minister and the Deputy Premier shall be members of Cabinet," he states.
The legislator had opposed changes to the Constitution. The changes were mooted as way out for lasting unity in the country.
Kuria further prefers that to reduce the burden of representation, the position of Woman Representative in the National Assembly be scrapped.
He also suggests that there shall be no nominated MCAs as well as nominated Senators.
"There shall be only nine nominated MPs; three each representing persons with disabilities, the youth, and women respectively."
The MP further bids that the first runner up in the Presidential election be an automatic nominated MP and shall occupy the office of the Leader of the Official Opposition.
Kuria further proposes that the President shall appoint at least 26 Cabinet members from among elected or nominated MPs.
"Each ministry shall have one assistant minister who shall not be an MP. The Cabinet will have two clusters with each reporting to either Deputy Prime Ministers who shall in turn report to the Prime Minister."
"The President and the Deputy President shall receive regular briefings on government performance from the Prime Minister and shall provide him with general guidance and directions," he adds in his memorandum.
To end the disconnect between the Senate and county government, Kuria suggests that a Senator elected in a county becomes the automatic Speaker of the county assembly.
For equitable share of revenue, he suggests that funds devolved to counties and constituencies through NG-CDF be shared based on population at 80 per cent and other factors at 20 per cent.
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