• Ruto wrote to speakers of the Senate and National Assembly asking for amendment of the Constitution to create the office of leader of official opposition.
• He said the Constitution failed to define the role of the minority side following a presidential election.
Image: FILE
President William Ruto's proposal for constitutional amendment to "enrich Kenya's democratic experience" continues to be criticised as misplaced.
The latest to censure the president is former IEBC commissioner Roselyn Akombe who says Kenyans are facing more pressing issues than amending the Constitution.
"You would think that as people struggle to put food on the table the focus would be on ameliorating the economic stress. But no, let’s amend Katiba to appease the political elite!" Akombe said in a tweet on Satuday
Her remarks were in apparent reference to Ruto's proposal for Parliament to amend Chapter nine, Part IV of the Constitution to establish the office of the leader of official Opposition.
In arguments contained in a memo to speakers of the Senate and National Assembly, Ruto said that the Constitution failed to define the role of the minority side following a presidential election.
"This is to say that the bipartisan symmetry between the majority and minority sides does not extend to its full logical extent."
You would think that as people struggle to put food on the table the focus would be on ameliorating the economic stress.
— Dr. Roselyn Akombe (@DrRoselynAkombe) December 10, 2022
But no, let’s amend #Katiba to appease the political elite! @MigunaMiguna @NetoAgostinhoMP @waikwawanyoike @WMutunga pic.twitter.com/da2b2q1kol
Ruto averred that the Presidential system coupled with the exclusion of presidential candidates from holding parliamentary seats limits the leader of the minority from oversighting the government.
"The consequence is that the overall political leader of the minority side is effectively excluded from meaningful political participation, and left to rely on the minority house leaderships to perform the function of oversight.
Ruto said he believes time is rife for the country to explore the possibility of remedying this shortcoming.
"I believe that the idea of the official opposition, above and beyond mere minority parliamentary leadership, makes tremendous sense in terms of institutionalising governance, strengthening oversight and deepening democracy," he said.
The president's remarks are a shift from his previous stance where he sharply differed with his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga on the amendment of the Constitution through the Building Bridges Initiative.
The duo argued that the current winner-takes-it-all system of governance was the sole reason the country is politically divide every election year.
Ruto's change of tune has, however, been met with criticism with those opposing it saying it's an attempt to mutilate the Constitution for political expediency.
Lawyer Miguna Miguna said there is nothing wrong with the Constitution that requires amendments.
Political strategist Benji Ndolo said, "No amending Constitution, let’s look for quality leaders amongst us and implement katiba. Nothing else."
LSK President Eric Theuri said Ruto was looking for an avenue to drag the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) back and asked Kenyans to reject attempts aimed at amending the Constitution.
I will say it for the avoidance of doubt. There is nothing wrong with the Constitution. No defect. No errors. Nothing that requires amendments or mutilations. The Constitution of Kenya requires honest and consistent IMPLEMENTATION, application and RESPECT. Period!
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) December 10, 2022