This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
A constitutional referendum is on the horizon in Kenya, raising questions about the country's readiness for a parliamentary system of government.
Adopting a parliamentary system would mean discarding the current presidential system, which has been criticized for its lack of inclusivity and perpetuation of exclusion.
The clamor for a parliamentary system is not new in Kenya, dating back to the constitutional reform process and the Bomas Conference of 2004.
At the time, Kenyans expressed a desire to rid their country of the all-powerful, autocratic presidency, with a parliamentary system comprising an executive prime minister and a ceremonial president being proposed as a solution.
However, the adoption of a presidential system at the 2010 referendum changed the course of events.
Today, the question is whether the parliamentary system can remedy the real and perceived failures of the presidential system, including lack of inclusivity in national politics.
The Building Bridges Initiative and the 'Punguza Mzigo' process are ongoing constitution reform discussions that aim to address these issues.
A parliamentary democracy offers a viable alternative to the presidential system, promoting inclusivity, unity, and strong political parties with a national outlook.
Under a parliamentary system, citizens directly elect their representatives to the legislature, who then elect a prime minister to form and run the government.
The legislature acts as a check on the government, ensuring that the executive does not overstep its bounds.
Kenya is ripe for a parliamentary republican system of government, with an executive prime minister elected by MPs and a non-executive president elected directly by the people.
However, for the parliamentary system to be effective, it must be tied with proportional representation to ensure that every vote counts.
From a Kenyan perspective, the parliamentary republican system has several advantages, including reduced political tensions in national leadership contests and the promotion of a culture of issue-driven politics and coalition building.
It also ensures a more sustainable political and constitutional order in Kenya compared to the presidential system.
