Building Bridges team wants Kenyans to vote for a seven-year term President

Building Bridges team wants Presidential term to be seven years

Mumbi Mutuko

July 15, 2019 8:26 AM

A President to serve for seven years

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga with members of the Building Bridges Initiative taskforce at State House

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) team has proposed to have a single seven-year term president.

A report by the BBI team wants the President to be elected by a three-tier Electoral College through a secret ballot for a non-renewable term of seven years.

Alternatively, the team proposes that the election of the President be by direct adult suffrage through a secret ballot on a Tuesday immediately preceding the 21 days before the expiry of the term of the sitting President.

On Monday the Standard reported that the BBI team also suggested the creation of a powerful prime minister and introduction of 14 regional governments.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga with members of the Building Bridges Initiative taskforce at State House Pulse Live Kenya

Other BBI recommendations

Among other proposals recommended is a Cabinet appointed from among MPs of not more than 20 ministers, including two deputy Prime Ministers, reintroduces deputy ministers.

The President shall appoint and may dismiss the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers and the ministers, according to the BBI.

Another proposal by BBI is to have the Prime Minister appointed from the National Assembly being the leader of the largest political party or coalition of parties or in its absence, the leader of the second-largest party or coalition of parties.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga with members of the Building Bridges Initiative taskforce at State House Pulse Live Kenya

According to the report, the Cabinet shall consist of Prime Minister; deputy prime minister; and not fewer than 15, and not more than 20 other ministers.

BBI also proposed an increase in county allocations from current 15 per cent to 45 per cent, with 13.5 per cent channeled to regional governments and another 26.5 per cent to be shared equally among county governments.

Mumbi Mutuko