Dear Sir/Madam,
A fortnight ago, honorable Joshua Kuttuny reminded all and sundry that Rift Valley legislators have numerical strength in the tenth Parliament and could therefore “do something.” It now emerges that “the something” he was referring to was a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
This is the standard practice in many democracies around the globe. Parliament uses this arsenal with a view to checking on executive misconduct, or its effect, especially if the official`s unbecoming behavior subverts the structure of government or undermines the integrity of the office or the Constitution itself.
So if there is sufficient proof that a government official is behaving in a manner grossly incompatible with the proper function and purpose of the office or that he employs the power of his office for an improper purpose or for personal gain, then a vote of no confidence comes in handy.
In Kenya such a threshold is seemingly non-existent. It may well be that a section of the political divide may invoke this power simply because they do not like one`s nose. This lacuna may seriously undermine the integrity of the office of the PM.
For instance, a look at section 4b of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, 2008, states that “the office of the Prime Minister shall become vacant if the National Assembly passes a resolution which is supported by a majority of all the members of the National Assembly, excluding the ex-officio members, and of which not less than seven days notice has been given, declaring that the National Assembly has no confidence in the Prime Minister.”
From the foregoing it is apparent that the grounds for the vote of no confidence are conspicuously missing hence this leaving crude weapon to become a matter of political judgment. I bet this is akin to a demented old sucker monkey holding a loaded gun.
But how honest are the politicians behind this vote of no confidence? You see, the Prime Minister is simply supervising the implementation of that which the cabinet and parliament agreed to. I thought that it would have been the failure on his part to implement the government`s decision that would have engendered a vote of no confidence against him and not the other way round.
Moving a vote of no confidence against the PM based on a reality constructed on pure lies will most certainly prove counter-productive. Those bent on exploiting this provision must know that since the Mau eviction exercise has the blessings of the entire Parliament and Cabinet, then the vote of no confidence must be against the Parliament and the Cabinet. In other words, they must move a motion that seeks the entire Government to resign, or seek a parliamentary dissolution and request a general election. Which Member of Parliament is ready to shoot himself in the foot now? Yep, you guessed it right. Not one among them will dare do that.
Our legislators must re-examine their conscience. They must know that reason why the eviction process is going against the United Nation`s conventions on human rights, is because of sabotage by the line ministries and not as a result of the gross incompetence of the PM. We are aware of the fact that the PM does not have the powers to dismiss the ministers responsible and the president has not shown any indication that he is about to do that. The vote of no confidence must be moved against the saboteurs of Government`s noble plan.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
Francis,
Two things here;
1] A vote of no confidence in the PM means the end of the Grand Coalition, and all go back to the electorate. No MP will vote for this.
2] The MPs making noise about Mau are the known people who embezzled maize out of the National Reserve at NCPB. They are just a few from the vast Rift Valley, and they do not represent the interests of the people of Rift Valley. They have no numbers.
We now know why the Ministry of Agriculture had to engage in massive Maize scandals.
Oto
Tome Francis,
We are in the times of the Grand Coalition based on the National Accord that was signed by two Principles named Kibaki and Raila.
If there is a move to have a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, it will be moving against the spirit of the Accord and hence if successful it will only mean that the end of the Grand Coalition will have arrived. True to your statement it will mean a vote of no confidence to the whole Parlirment and as such we should go to elections after that.
It is true non of those guys making noise now are ready to go for elections. They are all wasting our taxes by not adequately representing the interests of their constituents but those of their god fathers. Their end times are so near.
ED
Folks,
What do you do when HAGUE is in hot pursuit after your ass? The answer is Kupayuka tu. They are so confused they dont know which way is the sure way to go. Whichever way they turn their BUTTS, Hague is REAL. The reason for the goons rattle is, they are looking for sympathy from public and are busy looking for exit passage for safety, ndiyo sababu wana heka heka, wamebakia kujikojolea tu, walidhania KKK (Kilasiku ni Kama Kawaida) ni FASHION.
Hawa watu wametutoa jasho, wamevuruga Kenya, wameturudisha nyuma, wametuibia, wameua…wakashiba…….wacha wacheze kasheshe nasi tutacheza pachanga. Ngoma hiyooooo…..mlio wa mgambo ikilia, kuna jambo……..sikuyasema mie……..
Hii, ni Trailer…….Sinema BADO.
Stay tuned…….
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
MAU AND THE NEMESIS OF RAILA AMOLO ODINGA
Both Parliament and the cabinet approved the Mau evictions. But since it is the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga who is carrying out and supervising the government implementation of what both Parliament and the cabinet have passed, then he must be the wrong leader. What logic!
What would this group say had it been Uhuru Kenyatta or William Ruto who was implementing the eviction?
It is exiting! Let the vote of no confidence in Raila Amolo Odinga be moved in Parliament. The sooner the better be, that the said Parliament can be dissolved for an early general elections.
Kalonzo Musyoka, Mutula Kilonzo and last but not least Uhuru Kenyatta will never stop at anything until they fell Raila Amolo Odinga, the man whose father was the only man apart from Ramogi Achieng’ Oneko, who vigorously campaigned for Kenyatta’s release, at a time that the GEMA community never dared to mention the two words ”Jomo Kenyatta”. If anything, they wanted him to die in detention.
It seems to me that the no confidence movers will soon, with a little foresight, lose the tax-free income. As the Wanainchi make changes for the benefit of all, jettisoning them from, and replacing them in the august house, with people-friendly MPs once the vote of no confidence sales through in the august house, and general elections are carried out.
Do it! Do it! KANU stalwarts!
DR ODIDA OKUTHE.
Let this evil scheme by landgrabbers who think we have forgotten their dark past want to subject Kenyans to. Let every single Kenyan voter mark them and show them the door in 2012.
In deed, these guys should not be sitting in a government that is built on ‘national accord’, and yet they are ‘sowing seeds of discord’ and undermining government efforts to conserve the environment.
We have also noted people who want to be in the government at all cost, even if it means sleeping with an hyena. It is very sad seeing born again Kenyans at the forefront of hypocrisy.
It is disheartening when you see: former Commissioner of Lands, who presided over messing up of Kenya’s land registry now crying wolf; a former environment minister who cannot tell us any new policy paper he presented for environment conservation wanting to ride to power on an evil alliance opposed to environmental stewardship; one whose family has acquired large tracts of land since 1960s chest thumping about giving a few shillings to the evictees, instead of surrendering the ill gotten wealth.
Who has forgotten how former president Moi rode roughshod on Kenyans, assisted by some former senior civil servants now waxing saints? Who has forgotten how some amorphous YK92 distributed money in Rift Valley as settlers in Rift Valley, mostly Kisiis and Kikuyus, were maimed and killed in the name of political cleansing. It is the same method used last year to attempt at cleansing Rift Valley of settlers, in the pretext of protesting against bugled elections.
How do these guys expect people who have all along fought against impunity to turn around and support impunity.
Right Honorable Raila, if it is environmental conservation, we say move on; for reforms in governance, move on still; for ending impunity we say move on further. However, be wise! These guys are evil minded with ill gotten wealth at their disposal, do not show them your back.
Can you let me know where I can find or which website carries ” Kenya Draft Constitution”. For those who have read the document, can you give me some education on ” No Confidence Vote clause” on the PM position.
Gee wish!!!..times have changed in this country!. I wonder if ‘no confidence vote clause’ existed during: Kenyatta and Moi regimes in this country!. I am amused to see that those opposing the PM are planning to introduce “no Confidence vote” against the PM because of: “INHUMANE TREATMENT OF MAU DWELLERS AND DICTATORIAL LEADERSHIP” per Dr. Kones, MP. Did these MP ever thought of evoking “no confidence vote” when Kenyans were being butchered by these regimes???????. Do these MPS know anything about the laws they pass in this country? My sources and bloggers in this website have eloquently stated that the “National accord” that created PM position..does not have or did not address “No Vote of confidence clause” against the PM..how come these MPS are not aware of the absent of this clause??.
If I am not mistaken, the PM is carrying out the government policy that was passed by the parliament where these MPS sit and earn every dime without paying taxes in this country. How come they cannot even pay attention to government resolutions like Mau forest conservation???. If these MPS were smart…which I doubt!, they should be supporting the PM because he is carrying out the directives of the administration that is paying their salaries. On the other hand, If the PM was NOT carrying out eviction notices then these MPS would have a case to call “No confidence vote” in this case. I hope right minded Kenyans will not take these “jokers ” seriously on their No confidence vote thereat, unless they are willing to bring No confidence vote against the entire administration..NOT AGAINST THE PM!
I wish there was a thoughtful law maker in Kenya who can introduce “No confidence vote” against the entire administration on ” Mau eviction policy and see how many MPS would vote against themselves out job!!!. As it stands now, these MPS are abusing the ” No confidence Vote clause” in this case. Some on the opposition are using the ” Mau evictees” as a front for their current and future political gains by forming loose alliances for the coming 2012 elections. With rampant political corruption in this country, don’t be surprised if you see massive money changing hands for no confidence vote and promises for political appointments in future governments.
On a serious note, ” No confidence vote clause” in the new constitution should require 3/4 majority “yes” vote to pass against PM/ President, but only if they abuse the power of their office, rather than what these MPS are planning to charge the current PM with in Mau case.
These MPS should NOT be allowed to personalize the PM office as they are doing now!. I often wonder ..in the future when PM office will be occupied by another tribe..lets see: Kamba..will Luos join with Luyas, or Kikuyus join with Kalenjins etc to drive the PM out office if they don’t agree with administration policy??????.
With only simple majority to call for ” No confidence vote” Kenya will have elections or new PMS every week!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did Raila know this was coming? Yes more will follow. For every action there is a reaction. I hope he planned on how to deal with this, and the rest of the things that will follow.
Barack
Judy,
Congrats for a final nail into this mjadala. While the noise is increasing about Mau, so is the speed in which Ocampo [the fellow who never smiles ] is lubricating is guillotines.
A few heads will snap. Kuna msemo kwamba ngombe ikiona kijichio lazima duru,mateke iongezeke.
Ocamp, please make us an example of how not to demonstrate rigged election.
Ruto,Uhuru,Balala etc,etc kujeni hivyo vile mnakuja.
T.M.Nzissi-EMBU