Kenyan Constitution: Chapter Nine, Part 2, Article 131 to 132

The Executive

President And Deputy President

Article 131: Authority of the President

(1) The President–

(a) is the Head of State and Government;
(b) exercises the executive authority of the Republic, with the assistance of the Deputy President and Cabinet Secretaries;
(c) is the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces;
(d) is the chairperson of the National Security Council; and
(e) is a symbol of national unity.

(2) The President shall–

(a) respect, uphold and safeguard this Constitution;
(b) safeguard the sovereignty of the Republic;
(c) promote and enhance the unity of the nation;
(d) promote respect for the diversity of the people and communities of Kenya; and
(e) ensure the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

(3) The President shall not hold any other State or public office.

Article 132: Functions of the President

(1) The President shall–

(a) address the opening of each newly elected Parliament;
(b) address a special sitting of Parliament once every year and may address Parliament at any other time; and
(c) once every year–

(i) report, in an address to the nation, on all the measures taken and the progress achieved in the realisation of the national values, referred to in Article 10;
(ii) publish in the Gazette the details of the measures and progress under sub-paragraph (i); and
(iii) submit a report for debate to the National Assembly on the progress made in fulfilling the international obligations of the Republic.

(2) The President shall nominate and, with the approval of the National Assembly, appoint, and may dismiss —

(a) the Cabinet Secretaries, in accordance with Article 152;
(b) the Attorney-General, in accordance with Article 156;
(c) the Secretary to the Cabinet in accordance with Article 154;
(d) Principal Secretaries in accordance with Article 155; high commissioners, ambassadors and diplomatic and
(e) consular representatives; and
(f) in accordance with this Constitution, any other State or public officer whom this Constitution requires or empowers the President to appoint or dismiss.

(3) The President shall–

(a) chair Cabinet meetings;
(b) direct and co-ordinate the functions of ministries and government departments; and
(c) by a decision published in the Gazette, assign responsibility for the implementation and administration of any Act of Parliament to a Cabinet Secretary, to the extent not inconsistent with any Act of Parliament.

(4) The President may–

(a) perform any other executive function provided for in this Constitution or in national legislation and, except as otherwise provided for in this Constitution, may establish an office in the public service in accordance with the recommendation of the Public Service Commission;
(b) receive foreign diplomatic and consular representatives;
(c) confer honours in the name of the people and the Republic;
(d) subject to Article 58, declare a state of emergency; and
(e) with the approval of Parliament, declare war.

(5) The President shall ensure that the international obligations of the Republic are fulfilled through the actions of the relevant Cabinet Secretaries.

Read: Kenyan Constitution: Chapter Nine, Part 1, Article 129 to 130