Pressure is mounting on President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint a secretary to the cabinet to chair the transition committee that oversees the handing over of power.
Various presidential aspirants and a section of parliamentarians have questioned Uhuru's willingness to vacate office with less than three months to the polls.
Lawyer Willis Otieno, Safina party's presidential running mate, raised concerns over alleged behind the scene tactics being used to delay transition plans.
Otieno argued that despite the President's assurance that he will retire peacefully, Parliament's efforts on rushing to meet Constitutional times might be hampered by Uhuru's delay in appointing the secretary to the cabinet.
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As per the law, Parliament is expected to vet and approve the appointee before assuming office.
"It is a very important office in the republic and the failure to appoint a secretary to the cabinet is merely a manifestation of president Kenyatta’s disregard of the rule of law.
"A nominee to the position of the secretary to the cabinet must be approved by the House according to article 154 of the 2010 constitution, and considering that the House is set to break in less than four weeks, it is now becoming an issue of concern in many quarters," Otieno, the running mate of Safina Party's Presidential aspirant Jimi Wanjigi, argued.
During a Parliamentary debate on May 24, Garissa Township legislator Aden Duale added that the President was contravening the law for failing to submit a nominee given that the 12 Parliament's term is set to end in the coming months.
“Mr. President, I have worked with you, this is illegal. Send a name, this house will approve it before we go on recess so that the person becomes Secretary to the Cabinet, takes minutes, and becomes the chair of the assumption of office committee,” he stated.
However, in response, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairperson and Kagema MP, Muturi Kigano stated that Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua had been acting in the position and would therefore chair the transition committee if Uhuru fails to make an appointment.
“It is thus clear that the Head of Public Service, who is currently performing functions of Secretary to the Cabinet, shall serve as the chair of Assumption of Office of President committee to be established once the election is held and a president-elect declared," he stated.
On his part, during the National Prayer Breakfast on May 26, Uhuru assured the country that he would hand over power peacefully as other Heads of State have done before him.
“The Tempo of our politics is beating at an increasing rate day by day but even as we engage in the upcoming contest, we know that the task of building a nation is one that is passed from generation to generation.
"Generations and generations of leaders are, therefore, called upon to pass the baton unbroken and I intend to do just that,” he stated.
