NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 3 – The Kenya Kwanza Alliance Coalition are now pushing for political leaders who stage violent demonstration to be barred from vying for political seats in the country.
During their presentation before the National Dialogue Committee, the President William Ruto led coalition proposed legislation to regulate the rights to demonstration saying it will avert deaths and destruction of properties witnessed during political protests.
“The legislation should specifically address and provide mechanism to bar political leaders who lead violent demonstration from vying from any elective position. It should mandate the organizers to gazette the venue, time and reason for picketing,” said UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala.
The UDA Secretary General pointed out that legal framework regulating demonstrations in the country will ensure organizers of protests are held liable in the aftermath of violent protests.
“The legislation should provide measures to ensure the leaders and organizers of violent demonstrations.This will encourage sanity and political order in our political class,”Malala stated.
The move aimed at curtailing political expediency of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition leaders led by Orange Democratic Leader Raila Odinga and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc Kenya Leader Martha Karua alongside other key leaders.
The opposition had called for protests against perceived government failure to tame escalating cost of living and the audit of the 2022 presidential election but they called off the demonstration to pave way for talks.
The ruling coalition have also called for the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission by the IEBC Selection panel decrying that the delay in filling the commissioner’s posts has affected key constitutional process.
“This will ensure we fast track whatever is outstanding which include the delimitation of boundaries and therefore we maintain that the selection panel should continue with the process so that the poll agency conduct the seven pending by elections,” said Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of seeking to unilaterally pick the electoral agency commissioners opting out of the process.
Odinga had expressed concern over the allocation of two slots to the Parliamentary Service Commission and one slot to the Public Service Commission, stating that this gives the president an unfair advantage due to PSC’s position in the Executive.
The Kenya Kwanza Alliance also supported the formation of the Office of the Opposition Leader and entrenchment of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary position in the Constitution.
“This is an important office in ensuring inclusivity, we resist violence after every election due to the perceived winner takes it all scenario. This position will alleviate problems, strengthen oversight and deepen democracy,” said Malala.
President William Ruto had urged Parliament to consider amending Chapter 9, part four of the Constitution to allow for the establishment of the office of the official opposition leader, whose operations will be indicated.
Ruto was emphatic that whoever comes second in a presidential election had a huge following behind him and needed an office where his supporters can find him to discuss various issues affecting them.
The Head of State also wants Parliament to consider the return of the Constituency Development, Senate Oversight, and National Government Affirmative Action funds (CDF).He argued that there are visible benefits of CDF, that respond to localised problems.
