Kenya Proposes Prime Minister Post in New Governance Framework

Kenya’s Steering Committee on the Implementation of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) has proposed the reintroduction of the post of the prime minister and two deputies to make the government more inclusive and replace a winner-takes-all electoral system.

The committee proposes to expand Chapter Nine of the Constitution under  Article 151 by creating the  Prime Minister’s office who will have executive powers.

“The Constitution is amended by inserting the following new Part immediately after Article 151—Part 2A— The Prime Minister And Deputy Prime Ministers,” reads part of the report that was handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga Wednesday at the Kisii State Lodge.

“This recommendation, therefore, proposes the introduction of the Office of the Prime Minister and two Deputy Prime Ministers,” the report read.

“It also provides that Cabinet Ministers may be appointed from among members of the National Assembly.”

151A. Office of the Prime Minister.
(1) There shall be a Prime Minister appointed by the President in accordance with Article 151B.
(2) The Prime Minister shall—
(a) be the leader of government business in the National Assembly;
(b) oversee the legislative agenda in the National Assembly on behalf of government;
(c) supervise the execution of the functions of ministries and government departments;
(d) chair cabinet committee meetings as assigned by the President;
(e) assign any of the functions of the Office to the Deputy Prime Ministers; and
(f) perform any other duty assigned by the President or conferred by legislation.

“There are recommendations about inclusivity and about dealing and doing away with divisive elections,” President Kenyatta said.

Mr.Odinga disclosed that “We had to find a way in this Constitution to isolate problems affecting the minorities and find a way of addressing them…from sharing of resources to land rights, infrastructure, minorities, management and value addition to resources.” 

(Download a copy of the Building Bridges Initiative Report?