The referendum bells are ringing. The crescendo of the political drums is at their peak. Be it Punguza Mizigo, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) or any other, all indications are that Kenyans are going into a referendum.
As the referendum nears, and in what the AU Special Envoy for Infrastructure Raila Odinga has called a Tsunami, the talk in tow is to whether Kenya needs to continue with the Presidential system or adopt a parliamentary system.
The Presidential System of Government
A presidential system is a form of government in which the president is the chief executive and is elected directly by the people. In this system, all three branches – executive, legislative, and judiciary – are constitutionally independent of each other, and no branch can dismiss or dissolve any other.
The Parliamentary System of Government
A parliamentary system of government means that the executive branch of government has the direct or indirect support of the parliament. This support is usually shown by a vote of confidence. The relationship between the executive and the legislature in a parliamentary system is called responsible government.
Parliamentary of Presidential?
Speaking to NTV Kenya this morning, Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o, the Governor for Kisumu County said, “I have always felt that a presidential system is not the best in a multicultural society like ours. Parliamentary systems have worked better in countries with multicultural societies in terms of political stability and national unity.”
Kenya has been a presidential system since independence. Kenyans are tasked with directly electing their leaders, after every five years in what is known as a General Election. Those elected during a general election include the President with his/her deputy, governors and their deputies, senators, women representatives, members of parliament and members of county assemblies.
If Kenya will decide to go the parliamentary way, then the powers to “elect or appoint” the President will be left in the hands of Members of Parliament. Does this mean that the party with the majority of Members of Parliament will always produce a president?
Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o will be launching his book Presidential Or Parliamentary Democracy in Kenya? On Tuesday at the University of Nairobi, Chandaria Arts Centre. Even before the book comes out, Kenyans have started voicing their views.
“Implement the current constitution to the full first. Let it settle. As Kenyans, this referendum should be about us, for us by us. This book should help us crystallize our thoughts on this debate for good,” said Soko Analyst through his Twitter handle.
“Being that Nyong’o has been an insider in the Kenyan political scene for the longest time, the book looks to be interesting,” said another user by the name Hapa Kenya.
Anyway, what is your take? Presidential or Parliamentary? Leave your views in the comment section after this story.