This archive report was first published on 21 July 2019.
On July 21, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga endorsed a new power structure proposed by the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) team, which includes a one-term 7-year presidency and a powerful Prime Minister.
The proposed structure aims to reduce ethnic tensions and divisions that often arise during elections in Kenya.
Key recommendations include a Cabinet of not more than 20 ministers, including two deputy Prime Ministers, and the reintroduction of deputy ministers.
The report also recommends raising allocations to counties to 45% and reducing the number of MPs to 209 from 416, with 180 directly elected by the people.
According to the report, the President will hold office for a term not exceeding seven years and will be the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.
The proposed amendments will see Kenya adopt a parliamentary system with a President elected by a college of legislators, similar to the Russian government model.
