New details have emerged on the new system of government proposed by National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga.
The Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) National Executive Council (NEC) is set to have a meeting in Naivasha on Tuesday which will address 2 key proposed changes; the parliamentary system of governance and the three-tier system of government with 14 new regional governments.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna confirmed that the NEC meeting was on the cards as he reiterated their support for the 'Building Bridges' initiative by Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“The central management committee resolved many things on Friday, one of which is that we hold a NEC meeting to strengthen the party,” he stated.
Sifuna revealed that the NEC meeting would only be the first step in a series of events scheduled for coming months.
[caption caption="ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna addressing a past press conference"]
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“After the NEC meeting we shall embark on branch visits to explain to the rank and file the meaning of the handshake and what it means for our party and what we expect of it. The idea is to have coherence in our messaging because failure in that regard will lead to many interpretations which may damage our party,” he disclosed.
Raila believes that the parliamentary system is key to dealing with entrenched exclusion, tribalism, system of patronage and centralization of power associated with the Presidential system
“It is better for you to lose one part of the body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. I believe it is time to gather the courage and gouge out this problematic institution from our system, lest it lead us into the abyss,” Raila noted in reference to the currrent office of the President.
He explained how the current system worked to entrench dominance by large communities before expounding on the merits of a parliamentary system.
“It is most likely that only a member of a large tribe is likely to have any prospect of being elected president. Often deals will be made between leaders of two major tribes for mutual support which, if adhered to, could keep others out of power for 20 years!” he stated.
Raila then explained how it would be easier to deal with dissatisfaction with the government in a parliamentary set-up.
“In case of major dissatisfaction with the government, it can be replaced by a vote of no-confidence (passed with the support of the opposition and usually some disenchanted members of the government party or minority parties) by the opposition or the government dissolved which opens the space for new elections. In a presidential system, it is much harder to remove the head of government,” he wrote.
He noted that a parliamentary system would empower opposition and encourage power-sharing as the winning party would still need a parliamentary majority to form government.
"If no party has a majority, the largest party has the option of forming the government if it can form it with members of another party, a form of power sharing. Each minister is in a sense responsible both to the cabinet and to parliament," he stated.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta with NASA leader Raila Odinga"]
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