We are thankful that for once in as many times ODM listened in to the small voice of reason and saved themselves an impending political embarrassment. Way to go! And listen some more. Ask Obama. Never get too busy or mystified by the tasks out there that can be overwhelming at times; always maintain an ear to the ground. Always!
We are glad reason has prevailed. That we should have a pure Presidential system where the Chief Executive is elected by popular vote of 50%+1. To be honest, that is what Kenyans want.
The media reports that the ODM supporters will need a lot of convincing are misplaced. They were half-heartedly supporting the Parliamentary because their leaders said it was good but if they change their mind, it is still ok. The supporters know what they are aspiring for and the system does not matTer much.
It Is not rocket science but a matter of vested interests and myopic perceptions. We should give Kenyans a constitution beyond Raila and Kibaki. A constitution beyond Jaluo na Kikuyu. We should look into the future and contrast our circumstances against the tapestry of history.
The problem in this country is not the title that should be assumed by the CEO of the Republic but the checks and balances that are functional and effective to keep the occupier of the office severally accountable to the electorate who are the people of Kenya.
A clear separation of power between the Executive, Parliament and Judiciary should be well spelt out. Those who were advocating for the hybrid system are lost to the fact that we have been having a hybrid system in this country all along. A corruption of the Parliamentary system (impure presidential system). The late President Jomo Kenyatta took over the leadership of this country as a Prime Minister but he connived with the brilliant Tom Mboya to assume the title of President without engaging due process. And that is where our problems all began. I am saying this with all due respect to the late Tom Mboya.
Thank God we shall now have a proper Presidential system.
Sande
Vihiga Village
If the truth be told, the problem has not been with ODM, but rather with PNU. ODM has all along been willing to concede, even to the extreme, where they have had to move completely to the PNU side, without PNU conceding anything.
All along PNU had insisted on ‘a powerful President supposedly with Checks and Balances and separation of Powers’ ODM gave them that.
Now they want to mix Executive with Legislative by insisting that the President should have the power of rewarding his cronies in Parliament by appointing at least 50% of ministers from there.
They also want Regions divided into small units that can not be Economically viable, so they continue to depend on handouts from the Treasury which will be controlled by one of his/her cronies.
How would this be different from the current system? And I can bet you if they are granted the new demands they will come up with more, until we are back to square one. It is called blackmail, not negotiation. At best PNU is not negotiating in good faith.
It is also clear that they are representing a small but powerful group which was not happy with what they had accepted, and has turned them back, otherwise how does one turn back on ones word over one week end?
It was the same during Anan negotiations, till Anan decided to deal with the Principals directly
It seems the CoE should have taken a leaf from Anan’s book!
Will this constitution stipulate that this TIME all MPS will pay taxes like every one else in this country?????????. Will this constitution further states or have clause preventing these MPS from hiding 75% of income they get from public purse as expense allowance to avoid paying taxes on them?????????????. Have you seen the hefty income that these “suckers” get without again without paying taxes like every one else!!!!!. For those who cares about this consitution and the changes it is supposed to bring to this country out to pay attention to taxation areas. Remember ones MPS taxation is left out..these morons will never pay red cent in the the moneys they plunder from the public coffers…they will always quote constitution when demanded to pay taxes by the public.
Lastly. this constitution does not belong to PNU or ODM..political parties comes and go!…where is KANU now days????????. The point here is that the nation’s constitution must endure . Only short sighted people can see the pending constitution in context of these corrupt political parties of the day!!!!!!!!