The debate surrounding the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has continued with a senator now proposing the elimination of a requirement for running mates for presidential and gubernatorial candidates.[โฆ]CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLEโถ
Mandera Senator Ali Roba instead wants the governors and presidential candidates to appoint their deputies post-election.
According to Roba, this will cure instances of insubordination as has been witnessed in the country.
“I will propose amendments to the constitution and relevant acts to eliminate the requirement for running mates in gubernatorial and presidential elections,” he said.
He pointed out that this will also ensure a more cohesive working relationship between leaders and their deputies.
Gachagua whose fate lies with the senate is facing 11 charges.
He is accused of gross violation of the Constitution, promoting ethnic discrimination and undermining national unity through divisive public statements.
He is further accused of contradicting government policies and failing to uphold his duties as Deputy President, thus violating the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility.
Roba’s sentiment follows that of ex-Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli who wants the president given powers to appoint and sack his deputy.
Article 148 states that each candidate in a presidential election nominates a person who is qualified for nomination for election as President, as a candidate for Deputy President.
“For the purposes of clause (1), there shall be no separate nomination process for the Deputy President and Article 137 (1) (d) shall not apply to a candidate for Deputy President,” it states.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission shall declare the candidate nominated by the person who is elected as the President to be elected as the Deputy President, it adds.
Section 6, however, provides grounds in which a DP can be removed.
Rutto, the Judicial Service Commissioner said there was a need to review the law to adopt the previous system where the president selected their deputy, rather than having both positions decided by election.
He stated that this would eliminate the tendency of deputies to engage in unnecessary campaigning to try and succeed their bosses.
“Let us elect the president only…after that, it will be their decision to pick a deputy of their choice,” Ruto said.
Atwoli on his part argued that as it is currently, there is a perception of shared authority and some entitlement that the officeholders feel they are equal to the president which he noted should not be the case.
โThe deputy president should be an appointee of the president because once he becomes a running mate he feels he is also a president,โ he saidโฆCLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES>>>ย
