A call to create a prime minister’s post for President Uhuru Kenyatta when he retires has sparked fresh debate on the change-the-Constitution campaign. Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) boss Francis Atwoli ignited the debate during Labour Day celebrations yesterday.
Mr Atwoli argued that Uhuru was still young and should not be let to retire at the end of his current second and final presidential term. Uhuru is 55 years and will be 59 at the end of his term.
The Cotu boss’ proposal is modelled on the Russian system that saw President Vladmir Putin and Prime Minister Dmtry Medvedev swap positions at the of Putin’s term.
“Let us amend this Constitution and adopt the Bomas draft to fight exclusion, realising that not all of us can be president. This will allow us to accommodate President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is very young. Otherwise where are we going to take him?” asked Atwoli. The Bomas draft constitution proposed transferring the bulk of presidential powers to a prime minister elected by Parliament. Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who was present during yesterday’s celebrations at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, did not comment on the matter, only saying his unity deal with Uhuru was unstoppable. Deputy President William Ruto has in the past opposed the push to amend the Constitution to create new posts.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and leaders of Majority Aden Duale (National Assembly) and Kipchumba M