National Assembly Speaker, Justin Muturi on Monday explained in detail his reservations towards what he termed as excessive inclusion in government, as part of a speech that was read on his behalf by Kiambu lawmaker, Jude Njomo.
Njomo was speaking during the launch of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy’s 2019/2023 strategic plan which was undertaken in an effort to provide a solid framework to strengthen democracy in Kenyan politics.
“Maximizing the level of inclusion is problematic because doing so inevitably stifles political competition which is the livelihood of representative democracy. Excessive inclusion is just as bad for democracy as excessive competition,” Muturi explained.
In his speech, the Speaker went on to urge the government to exercise caution while pursuing ways to include those who lost in the previous election.
He went on to emphasize that the absence of a strong, active and vocal opposition is a serious threat to the strides that the country has already made towards democracy.
However, the Speaker lauded the President Kenyatta’s efforts to accommodate some of his previous opponents through the Building Bridges Initiative terming it as a vital move in stifling ethnic tensions.
"The winner-takes-it-all politics and the concentration of power around the president means that losing parties could expect to be excluded from access to State resources. Elections then encourage ethnic conflict and collapse of political order,” Muturi divulged.
Muturi’s sentiments come a few days after Deputy President William Ruto weighed in his support for the call of an all-inclusive government during an address at the Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House, London.
