Kenya Needs a Parliamentary System of Governance

A parliamentary system of governance is one whereby the Executive derives its legitimacy from the Legislature. In a few parliamentary republics such as South Africa and Botswana, the head of government is also head of state, but is elected by and is answerable to the legislature. 

Unlike these nations, Kenya has embraced the presidential system of governance since it got its independence in 1963. This system, however, has been compromised by electoral malpractices and irregularities in the history of our nationhood. The 2007 general elections which was marred with grand-scale electoral malpractices marked the climax of this trend of impunity that almost brought the country to its knees.
To date, party politics have been characterized by money factor which has always had a corrosive influence on national politics. The so-called tyranny of numbers as witnessed on the March 4th general elections best suits this category. Such elements have a direct implication on the outcome of the elections. unfortunately, the implications are all negative in the spirit of democracy.

As a country which has since independence fought for democracy, Kenya needs to change it's system of governance to pave way for the parliamentary system. Time has come for the electorate to practice mature politics and elect competent leaders in the National Assembly who will effectively carry out their legislative functions- including the President's election. The current National Assembly is simply a representation of mediocre persons who cannot distinguish matters of national interests from their own. It's against this backdrop that the electorate need to eke countries like the USA and bring on board persons of impeccable personality who will play a crucial role in the governance of this country.

Unless we are conservatists, which in my opinion we aren't, we need to champion the proposed amendment that will ultimately lead to a referendum lest we fall off the slippery slope.

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I’ll run for top seat in 2017, says Raila

Adapted from the Daily Nation

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday broke his silence over the 2017 elections and declared he would take a fourth stab at the presidency.

The Cord leader assured supporters he would be on the ballot paper, contrary to perceptions by critics he is already out of active politics.

Mr Odinga, who spoke at the family cemetery of freedom fighter Ojijo Oteko at Kanjira in Rachuonyo North, was urged by residents to stay in politics.

Earlier during a fund-raiser at Adhiro Secondary School, which was renamed Ojijo Oteko Memorial High School, Siaya Senator James Orengo maintained that Mr Odinga was not going to abandon active politics.

“Why are they preoccupied with Raila’s age now when they are aware of the ages the late Kenyatta and retired presidents Moi and Kibaki were when they took office?” he said.

For the second day in a row, Mr Orengo and MPs Gladys Wanga, John Mbadi, Silvance Osele and George Oner maintained that Cord won the March 4 polls.

The lawmakers reiterated that they had lost faith in the polls team and urged all commissioners to pack up and leave before it is too late.

“Let the current IEBC commissioners pack up and go home because we will do everything to see them leave. If we managed to send the late Samwel Kivuitu and his team home, who are the current commissioners?” said Mr Orengo. The leaders once again predicted the collapse of the Jubilee government within two years.

Mr Odinga urged Kenyans not to allow the current government to frustrate devolution, saying it is their only hope.

He urged the government to put infrastructure in place before rolling out the primary schools laptop project.

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