GEMA SAYS NO

With only two days before the expiry of the 30 days debate period on the harmonized draft constitution sharp divisions continue to emerge over the system of governance.

The Gikuyu, Embu, Meru Association has Tuesday threatened to distance itself from the draft should the committee of Experts on Constitutional Review settle for a parliamentary system of governance.

GEMA executive committee maintains that a president elected directly by the people should be more powerful than the Prime Minister.

Speaking to the press in Nairobi, the members said power-sharing between the President and Prime Minister would be creating two centers of power which they argue was dangerous for the country's democracy.

Led by the group Patron Njenga Karume, the group dismissed claims of an executive president abusing power as witnessed before saying proper checks and balances will be created.

This comes amid differences between the Grand Coalition Government partners PNU and ODM over the system of government.

ODM proposes a parliamentary system of governance while PNU prefers a presidential system.

Elsewhere, Gender and Children Affairs Minister, Esther Murugi Mathenge says the executive powers of the President should be maintained and not curtailed within the new constitution to enable the Presidency to be accountable to the affairs of the Nation.

Speaking in Nyeri during a sensitization workshop on the harmonized draft constitution to grassroot leaders, Murugi said Kenyans should borrow a leaf from well managed economies like the United States of America where the President has executive powers.

Murugi cautioned leaders against politicizing the Constitution saying it will be used by future generations and those compiling it should be concerned about the future of this country.

The function was attended by religious leaders, women leaders, representatives from the Jua kali and Matatu sector, women group leaders, and Civic leaders.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) says the proposed government structure in the draft constitution is bloated and will be an added burden on the taxpayer.

KEPSA says the government has been unable to fully finance the budget, hence the proposed government structure that seeks to add more institutions might impoverish Kenyans further.

In a statement to the committee, KEPSA calls for the scrapping of the proposed Senate due to the cost associated with running the House and its functions to be carried out by the parliament.

Kepsa also says that the creation of more constitutional offices such as the Supreme Court is unnecessary and that only reforms are needed in the existing structures.

KEPSA adds that the proposed regional governments do not have a clear structure of functions and would only drag the country into ethnic blocks, since most of the counties will be created around ethnic communities.