Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:21:40 +0300 [12:21:40 PM CST]
From: David Chege
Subject: Re: Restructure the Government NOW!!
My two cent contribution,
We have 70% or whatever %tage we members of parliament, yet thievery thrives, does it mean the 30% is so bad.
Time to ask ourselves hard questions.
1. Are our leaders a reflection of Kenyan society. Is each one of us a thief/corrupt person waiting to get his chance/time to eat? How many of us given the chance would not pay their tax?
2. Is there any way I can change what’s happening in Kenya by doing the small things that can change me, my family, my neighborhood…etc
Does it matter where the govt runs from if all in government are only thinking of where can i eat from?
All this talk about changing this office/constitution is good, but I think meaningful change calls for a paradigm shift. A thirst for Patriotism, a willingness to go against the tribal grain, to stand up for the truth and in my very own a willingness to see a new order
As long as I label myself Kikuyu/PNU, and another person labels themselves Luo or Kalenjin/ODM, Kenyan Money will continue being siphoned into individual pockets.
Proper government will never happen because our “Tribal chiefs” will run back to their constituents to say the tribe is under threat.
I think Kenyan politicians all eat together, plan together, and execute corruption like a game of chess. They do business together, aren’t they or their cronies directors in the same companies.
They outsmart each other on what plan to apply to make Kenyans forget their evil ways.
Food for thought,
Can you do something to make Kenya a better place? Is there something you are doing?
We are the only nation that campaign all year round all time around.
Before removing the speck on politicians eyes, remove the log(tribalism, hate, unpatriotic) that lies in your eyes.
For the religious Don stop praying until the job is done.
regards
David
—– Original Message —–
From: Kennedy Oduor
To: Bidiiafrika@googlegroups.com ; fidelisnakhulo@yahoo.com ; Geoangira@hotmail.com ; Gabrielokumu@yahoo.com ; nallyian@yahoo.com ; henryegnatius@yahoo.com ; nmumbo@strathmore.edu ; m_mudambo@yahoo.com ; agalily@yahoo.com ; bidiiafrika@googlegroups.com
Cc: sundaynation@nation.co.ke ; letters@eastandard.net
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 5:46 PM
Subject: Restructure the Government NOW!!
Henry thank you for raising a very important issue that Kenyans seem not to be keen in discussing and resolving. For this government to work smoothly without intrigues and confusing, there is need for the executive to be restructured in GOOD FAITH. A Prime Minsiter in all Democracies that I know is always the head of government and Leader of Government Business in Parliament. This is sensible and any government which wants to perform must adopt this structure without political confusion and greed coming into the discussion.
In the Kenyan case, we have a lame duck Prime Minister, who is then asked to have 45 minutes in parliament articulating government Policy while he is NOT the Leader of government business in parliament. This is unaceptable and ODM must stand up and make sure that this anomaly is RESOLVED. The role of the PM is totally confused and diluted by the way the Accord stipulates it. Its hanging there without proper and concrete specifications and what the PM should do. Co-ordinating government minsitries means that he should represent the government in parliament and not the Vice President. We are thus having a very rudderless government. How can 210 members of parliament not see this anomaly and do something about it???
Secondly with the changed Constitution with the Accord, the post of head of public service should have been scrapped. It really doesnt matter who was holding the position at the time. What Kenyans need is a co-ordinated government that can work and deliver to millions of kenyans public service. Currently there is total confusion and thats why nothing is working.
I totally agree with PROPOSALS that Henry has put forward. Our young energetic MPs should rather concentrate in bringing these proposals to parliament so that we have a coherent GOVERNMENT.
— On Tue, 10/2/09, henry ouma wrote:
From: henry ouma
Subject: KENYA’S PRIME MINISTER AND THE 45 MINUTES
To: Bidiiafrika@googlegroups.com, fidelisnakhulo@yahoo.com, Geoangira@hotmail.com, Gabrielokumu@yahoo.com, nallyian@yahoo.com, henryegnatius@yahoo.com, nmumbo@strathmore.edu, m_mudambo@yahoo.com, agalily@yahoo.com
Cc: sundaynation@nation.co.ke, letters@eastandard.net
Date: Tuesday, 10 February, 2009, 8:56 AM
Starting next month-March 2009, parliament will hopefully, be implementing a set of new standing orders. As a result, the prime-minister will have some 45 minutes to articulate govt policy on a wide range of issues. Wednesday’s afternoon session has been set for this.
But one wonders which policy issues the PM will be articulating when he is neither head of government nor leader of government business in the house (parliament) .Secondly, in the critical realm of public service, Amb. Muthaura has seemingly taken hold.What exactly does the PM do ?
My view is that Raila must get his thinking proper and be open with Kenyans.Kenyans are fed up with the confusing state of affairs where the PM’s role is not properly and adequately defined.
Take for example—when the PM constituted a committe that initially investigated the case of sale of grand regency and the committee handed in a report, the president returned from an official overseas trip and dis-regarded this committe’s findings. Remember that the Attorney General Amos Wako the chief govt advisor and the Chief anti-corruption officer of govt-The Aron Ringera were part of the committe which found Kimunya culpable—–this shows who heads govt and state and we therefore cannot see the use of the PM being given time to articulate govt policy when he is not head of govt under the current constitutional dispensation.The true position is that PM will only be given the authority to speak in parliament as SENIOR MINISTER without portfolio—can PM for example direct VP not to table any given bill in parliament without President’s approval ?
Raila and Kibaki are, as per the law creating this govt, the principals but somehow there is no clear provision for executive authority being shared except for nominating persons on ODM side to be appointed cabinet ministers, somehow some actions from the PNU wing courtesy of the office of Muthaura create the thinking that the VP’s office is more senior than the PM’s office.Kenyans see some puerile juxtapositions here.
PROPOSALS
1.Parliament should work towards ammending the constitution to make the PM, leader of govt business in parliament—–this should not be part of the major constitution making process expected to start any time this year.This should be done with immediate effect through a private members bill / motion. Youthful MP,s like Namwamba had better invest in this rather than engaging shameful and demeaning things like he did last week in parliament—-Youthful MP’s must be seen to be critical thinkers not hecklers.
2.That the head of public service and minister for public service be placed under the PM,s office.This will make the PM,s office stronger and work to serve Kenyans–the current arrangement is useless—the President had better play state functions and leave govt to the PM as this WILL be in the new constitution.Kenyans need to get used to this efficient arrangement today not tommorrow.
3.That the PM must have perfomance targets—what govt must deliver other wise Kenyans will be treated to yet another empty rhetoric.—take for example, where the PM promises that govt will provide subsidy to maize flour and in ashort while, this is just seen as hot air, nothing is practically seen to be happening on a national scale .Govt must be truthful and fulfill promises or its voted out.
4.That the PM,s office be staffed with highly qualified and experienced staff-40 of them and be the equivalent of permanent secretaries—each charged with supervisng the 40-bloated ministries—-this the only way PM will function efficiently—the expectations are too high for him—this will be the case for future PM,s who will head govt.
5.That in whole, the constitution making process be expedited and hopefully based along the Bomas draft—-this draft makes what our views of the Kenya we want are.
Unless thse reforms take place, the PM,s office is a waste today and Kenyans do not feel its practicability and usefulness.