Date Posted: 7/15/2013 1:12:13 AM
Posted By: Abudennis Membership Level: Silver Total Points: 840
Kenya is a sovereign state, ruled by a democratic government elected and mandated powers by the Kenyan people through an elaborate electoral process. The Kenyan government is made up of three arms; the Executive which comprises the president, his deputy and the cabinet secretaries. The Judiciary; which is the law watchdog and the Legislature; the main law making organ in the country. The Judiciary is an independent institution, the Executive and the Parliament work hand in hand to ensure that services rendered to the citizensThe Legislature comprises the upper house which is of senators and the lower house which comprises the national assembly. All these are elected by legally registered voters. The main objective of this house is to make laws, the laws that govern Kenya. This sovereign state has a single unifying national government and a further 47 county governments led by 47 elected governors.Under the new dispensation of governance; the new government led by H.E Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto has been in power for three months now. And so has been all the leaders recognized by the Kenyan Constitution. Each of these leaders have their powers well elaborated in the constitution that Kenyans accepted through a referendum in the year 2010. An exercise that had taken the nation a long period to reach, since the Lancaster House Constitution of the year 1962. In view of leadership and delivery of services and commitment to duties by the three arms of government; we can all say each has done an extent. Either negative or positive to be recognized by the Kenyan people.We have seen more transparency in judicial activities. We have live airing of judicial proceedings, and a reduction of pending cases by a further 70% in the last six months. There has been public involvement in appointing of judges, and those that have messed in their duties have been shown the outward door and Kenyans can have something to boast on.The Executive on the other hand involved the public through scrutinizing those appointed to the Cabinet Secretaries positions. This being the very first time to do so in the country’s 50 years of independence. The Executive has also been streamlined and ministries provided for funds in the national budget according to demand. County governments were provided for a total of 210 billion shillings in the national budget. This being at least a 10% allocation as stated in the constitution. . Recently the press was hosted at the state house for a morning live recording and questions from the journalists. This was a good move in bringing Kenyans nearer to the highest office in the land. Kenyans can hear one on one reply from their leaders on matters pertaining to the land.The National Parliament, the law making organ of the country. First they had the issue to increase their earnings. They took the better first month in power in parliament pressing on the Salaries and Remunerations Commission to increase their salaries since they claimed they were earning peanuts. To an extent of threatening the president that they would see down all bills brought in parliament by the executive, not unless they were going to see their pay digits increase. They managed to succeed in that. Secondly they attacked the upper house, the senate. They called it a house of retirees who had too little to offer when it came to law making. The Senate had to take the case to court, to seek guidance on elaboration of duties between the Senate and The National Parliament. The hearing is set for August this year.Next on line being attacked are the governors. The parliamentarians claim powers given to these governors are too much for them to handle and they must be reduced. So, the question comes; who gave these powers to the governors? Is it not the Kenyan people by enacting the new constitution and through a general election? The Constitution in Chapter Eleven on Devolved Governments, part 1, section 174, clauses (a) to (i) clearly states why these parliamentarians should realize we are under a new system of leadership. I will quote clause (c) that clearly states the reasons for devolved governments. (c)...to give powers of self governance to the people and enhance participation of the people in the exercise of powers of the State and in making decisions affecting them.This should let the parliamentarians know that it is people who have decided to rule over themselves by knowing what is best for them. It is in my opinion they have realized they are no longer worshipped back in their villages, they no longer have the final decisions. Chapter eight on the Legislature, part 1, section 95 elaborates more on what the national parliament shall do. A clause on the functions of parliament clearly states that. (a) ....the national reviews the conduct in office of the President, the Deputy President and other State officers and initiates the process of removing them from office. No part of this clause states that the national assembly shall reduce or reward powers to any state officer.Kenya is a young growing nation that does not require wrangles for power at this time, we just got to pull up our socks and set the pace for each other so that this nation reaches its goals.
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