Former Justice Minister, Martha Karua has cautioned President Uhuru Kenyatta against angling to become Prime Minister after the end of his second term in 2022.
The 2013 presidential candidate who was speaking at the sidelines of the Women Agenda Kenya conference on Tuesday, November 12 termed the move speculated to be fronted by the yet-to-be-released BBI report as unconstitutional.
“As a good friend, I am telling the president to not be tempted to preside over an unconstitutional post. Finish your term and let somebody else take the mantle,” Martha is quoted in a report carried by The Standard.
She was responding to comments made by the President at his Sagana with Mt Kenya leaders where he remarked, “I do not know the contents of the BBI report yet. I hear people claiming Uhuru Kenyatta wants to become the Prime Minister of Kenya. I wouldn’t mind being in leadership in such a post, though let us deal with the current situation first.”
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, city lawyer Apollo Mboya observed that while unconstitutional at the moment, there was no provision barring President Uhuru from becoming a Prime Minister in the event that the Constitution was amended to provide for that position.
“The constitution does not provide for the position of the Prime Minister right now so it's unconstitutional. But, if the law is changed then he [the president] can become Prime Minister ” the lawyer elaborated.
The event organised by the Centre for Multiparty Democracy attracted a total of 200 women leaders including MPs, MCAs and student leaders.
Karua also took the opportunity to suggest that she would be returning to national politics while rubbishing claims that she was willing to play second fiddle to another candidate in 2022.
“I have heard people saying that I will deputise someone but I want to tell them my middle name is not deputy and there is no seat reserved for specific people,” Karua asserted.
The former Gichugu Member of Parliament called upon leaders, especially women, to desist from making inflammatory comments.
“Competing against each other does not mean we have to abuse each other. Let us all learn to practice healthy competitions,” she urged.
