Handshake Taskforce Proposes One-Term Presidency, Prime Minster Post

Details of some of the key proposals the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) has recommended have emerged even as the country waits for President Kenyatta to make the final report public.

The BBI taskforce was formed in the aftermath of the March 9th, 2018 handshake between President Uhuru and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.

The 14-member team was tasked with collecting views of Kenyans on various issues including ethnic antagonism, lack of a national ethos, inclusivity, devolution, divisive elections, security, fight against corruption, shared prosperity, and responsibility. 

In its draft report, the taskforce proposes the creation of a three-tier structure of government comprising the national government county governments and 14 regional governments, People Daily reported.

It also wants the current system of governance overhauled by introducing a seven-year, non-renewable term for the president, the election of regional prime ministers and making the Senate the Upper House of the bicameral Parliament.

The BBI team further recommends an expanded executive through the creation of the position of the prime minister and deputy prime minister.

It further seeks to have the number of Senators and members National Assembly reduced from 67 to 29 and 349 to 180 respectively to address over-representation.

“The report is ready but we’re bound by the oath from discussing it. Let’s wait for the President to make it public,” BBI joint secretary lawyer Paul Mwangi told People Daily.

Deputy President William Ruto has already declared he will oppose any attempts to create more positions in government.

Other key recommendations by BBI include devolving Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and reviewing the law to allow political parties to nominate commissioners to the electoral commission.