Former Murang’a County Senator, Kembi Gitura has proposed a referendum to change the constitution before 2022 elections.
Speaking at Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) public hearing forum in Murang’a County on Thursday, Kembi called for parliamentary system of governance that allows leader of the political party with majority of seats in parliament to take over the country’s leadership.
However, such a system should come after a proportional representation in parliament, whereby all members of parliament, both Senate and National Assembly, will be representing by an equal number of people as opposed to representation of an area being determined by geographical size, he added.
Kembi who is also the non- executive Chairman of Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) said that there was need to change the constitution in order to create a bridge into 2023 by changing the current electoral system with a new one.
He said that Kenya should adopt a party list proportional representative election by putting stringent system and laws that will see parties carry out credible elections, adding that perception of improper representation has been the reason for disputed election outcomes that leads to election violence.
Kembi observed that while contested parliamentary disputes are resolved through petitions, disputes around presidential elections in Kenya have many times escalated to disruption of peace. He said that parliamentary system is working in South African.
The former senator also called for formation of Regional Assemblies as opposed to the current system where each county has its own assembly arguing that it would cut the cost of running the counties.
He also said that all counties in a given region should have one governor, noting that even the current counties leadership is forming regional blocks to steer development in their areas. “This means that the counties as currently constituted may not be viable,” he said.
Kembi also proposed for scrapping of Nairobi City County, saying that since it is the country’s capital and the seat of government, it should be put under a minister and a mayor elected by the people and also members of Parliament to represent the people, with no members of the county assembly.
He said that it would help reduce conflict that may be witnessed in cases where the city governor may not be in good terms with the president.
The public hearing forum was steered by Building Bridges to Unity Advisory Taskforce Chief Administrator, Dr. Stephen Karau and the Chairman, Senator Yusuf Haji. The forum was attended by Governor Mwangi Wa Iria, Senator Irungu Kang’ata and County Women Representative, Sabina Chege among other leaders.
By Judith Thuo
