Is it time to review governance structure?

Macharia Munene 

By Macharia Munene

In Summary

• When two legislators from two rival political camps, Jubilee and Cord, and feuding houses of parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly, come to the same conclusion about national interests, the country should pay attention
• The coincidence of two “deputies” calling for ways of strengthening governance and delivery of service to Kenyans, at a time that the performance of cabinet secretaries and county governments are under scrutiny, gives the country food for thought
• There are structural problems that need streamlining

There is growing rethinking about the implementation of the 2010 Constitution due to man-made and structural obstacles.

Man-made obstacles are in the misinterpretation of particular constitutional clauses either deliberately and mischievously or due to ignorance and lack of seriousness.

The structural obstacles are inherent in the document which, when interpreted wrongly, compound the problems that Kenya faces.

Some expectations are unrealistic, others are downright misplaced. It is the combination of the man-made and structural challenges that has made some thoughtful people raise the question of relooking at the current experiment on governance.

When two legislators from two rival political camps, Jubilee and Cord, and feuding houses of parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly, come to the same conclusion about national interests, the country should pay attention.

Senator Kembi Gitura from Murangá County writes and speaks with the hindsight of a former assistant minister, MP, and ambassador.

His views also carry the authority and national weight of being Deputy Speaker of the Senate. Mr Jakoyo Midiwo, MP for Gem, served as co-Chief Whip, and is the Deputy Minority Leader in the National Assembly.

His views on national issues go beyond those of an ordinary MP or party.

The coincidence of the two “deputies” calling for ways of strengthening governance and delivery of service to Kenyans, at a time that the performance of cabinet secretaries and county governments are under scrutiny, gives the country food for thought.

Kembi is worried about the incapacity of the cabinet secretaries to fulfil the mandates of their offices, not because of their ineptitude but because they do not have deputies.

He argues that the Constitution requires the government to provide services efficiently and nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of serving Kenyans.



He calls for appointment of deputy secretaries to enable the cabinet to deliver efficiently on all fronts. This, not forbidden by the constitution, is in Kenya’s national interests.

Jakoyo addressed President Uhuru Kenyatta and warned of the looming dangers to national well-being inherent in structural political confusion.

There are structural problems that need streamlining, he argued and asked the president to lead the country out of its constitutional log jam.

“This country cannot afford the political structure.… I want to request you to begin the debate,” he told the President at the funeral of his one-time co-Chief Whip George Thuo, “We shall support you … to sort out the mess we got ourselves into.”

Kembi and Jakoyo are concerned about Kenya’s future; with the poor delivery of service and with getting value for the shilling. For Kembi, the ability of the current cabinet to deliver is very weak and weakness threatens Kenya’s interests.