Kenya mulls re-introduction of Prime Minister post
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Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (C), Deputy President William Ruto (L) and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga hold hands at the BBI report launch in Nairobi, Kenya./Photo: Kenyan Presidency.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (C), Deputy President William Ruto (L) and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga hold hands at the BBI report launch in Nairobi, Kenya./Photo: Kenyan Presidency.

Kenya is mulling the re-introduction of a Prime Minister post, with the candidate tasked with supervising the day-to-day running of government affairs.

The government launched a report titled Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which aims to introduce a raft of constitutional changes in the country’s governance.

Among the leaders present at the launch ceremony in the capital Nairobi include President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and many others.

The report recommends the retention of the presidency with executive authority. The president shall be directly elected by Kenyan voters and will remain the Head of State and Government, and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces.

The deputy president position has also been retained in the BBI report.

The report also recommends the creation of an official leader of opposition post to keep the government in check.

The prime minister shall be nominated by the president and will be the leader of government affairs in Parliament.

The BBI also recommends that the president shall appoint a cabinet in consultation with the prime minister.

Protagonists of the report say it is aimed at promoting inclusivity and end political antagonism that has dogged Kenyan politics for decades.

Past Kenyan election periods have been marred with violence and destruction of property. Supporters of the BBI hope it can bring an end to the trend moving forward.

"Let us focus on what unites us and makes us cohesive and let us remove negative ethnicity.” President Kenyatta told delegates at the function.

This East African country is set to hold its next general elections in 2022.

Source: Kenya Presidency