NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Wednesday accused its coalition partner PNU of undermining the ongoing talks on constitution-making by issuing statements in the middle of consultations.
A statement issued late Wednesday after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Raila Odinga said ODM still prefers a pure parliamentary system of government as opposed to the Presidential system PNU is calling for.
“ODM remains committed to a pure parliamentary system of government as the best opportunity for a limited and accountable government for the people of Kenya,” the statement read by deputy party leader Musalia Mudavadi stated.
“Concentration of power in a single centre is responsible for ethnicisation of politics and dictatorship which leads to poor leadership in the country. We therefore, support real devolution of power and resources to the people,” he added, stressing the need for “government to be closer, responsive and accountable to the people.”
They are proposing that devolution be in three tiers which include national, regional and county levels because “devolution is about achieving equity for all in national development.”
The meeting at the Prime Minister’s office was attended by among others, Cabinet Ministers James Orengo (Lands), Charity Ngilu (Water), Henry Kosgey (Industrialisation), and Najib Balala (Tourism).
They observed that the “mongrel executive mixing parliamentary and presidential systems has created an executive that controls all the branches of government.”
They said those calling for the retention of an imperial presidency without the system of checks and balances “whereby ministers would be appointed from outside Parliament appear not to be serious about having an accountable government.”
Mr Mudavadi said consensus-building meetings were scheduled to continue on Thursday and assured Kenyans that the party was committed to reaching an agreement with its coalition partner.
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