Proposed constitutional amendments

[Kichwa]

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[RVtitem]

They haven't solved Nairobi problem.

What should have been done is move central government from Nairobi to a new location like Tz have managed to migrate to Dodoma under Magufuli.

This way, a new planned town can be build from ground up without the GEMA mess in Nairobi.

[Kichwa]

 
That's true. The people of Nairobi need to choose their own governor, but on the other hand, how do you save them from themselves  when they  pick semi-illiterate thugs like Sonko or educated thieves like Kidero. I think new democracies like Kenya should really think outside the box and realize that political parties do not have to be part of our democracy. The tribalization of political parties in old democracies such as USA should be a warning to us. Maybe Moi was right about political parties and tribalism, except he never offered an acceptable solution that would still maintain democratic ideals that we were fighting for. Right now,  I think we can find wasy to eliminate political parties and still maintain a robust democracy.

They haven't solved Nairobi problem.

What should have been done is move central government from Nairobi to a new location like Tz have managed to migrate to Dodoma under Magufuli.

This way, a new planned town can be build from ground up without the GEMA mess in Nairobi.

[Dear Mami]

That's an interesting idea, no parties. Don't know how it'd work. Bazungu screwed us up. We should have slowly transformed our old councils of elders into something like a majimbo senate or advisory body, with the head of govt rotating amongst tribes. That's more like a parliamentary system. But bazungu killed Okuyu council of elders that looked out for the people to create indirect rule by promoting sharks and making them more powerful than the old councils. The sharks then screwed their people for bazungu goodies, and later, together with Kenyatta, these sharks took over the bazungu and advanced that cold greedy capitalist unafrican man-eat-man system. I don't know if we can recover the old cultures. We are transitioning into one big tribe but in the mean time it'll continue to be thorny. Africans, not just Kenyans, need to find a system that works for mwafrika. Bazungu systems were not designed to solve our problems. If anything, they created the foundation for most of them.

Yes, the tribalization of the US is scary to watch from afar. I think Americans (both sides) have simply lost the ability to be one people and fair to the other side. It's full on tribalism, looking in from the outside. I hope it doesn't turn into something more violent. I used to think that a far-fetched idea but I increasingly don't think it's an unfounded fear anymore. The U.S. is lucky its rule of law prevents militias from forming and thriving, otherwise it'd already be in a civil war by now, IMO. Maybe Americans should simply divorce...they are effectively two countries. Their institutions and their Law are the only things they have left in common.

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

Rather than partyless, I'd just go with freedom to go with a party or be independent.  I also think the counties should revert to the old provinces which are still very much embedded in the Kenyan psyche.  Perhaps a few tweaks to accommodate alienated tribes like moving Kikuyu areas in RV to Central, Sebei areas in Western to RV and Luhya areas in RV to Western.

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

Yes, the tribalization of the US is scary to watch from afar. I think Americans (both sides) have simply lost the ability to be one people and fair to the other side. It's full on tribalism, looking in from the outside. I hope it doesn't turn into something more violent. I used to think that a far-fetched idea but I increasingly don't think it's an unfounded fear anymore. The U.S. is lucky its rule of law prevents militias from forming and thriving, otherwise it'd already be in a civil war by now, IMO. Maybe Americans should simply divorce...they are effectively two countries. Their institutions and their Law are the only things they have left in common.

Actually, it is illegal to prevent militias in the US.  It's part of the 2nd Amendment.  You don't see them generally, but I am told you will find quite a few in places like Michigan.

[GeeMail]

The proposed amendments are good. I like the idea of reverting to the old provinces as new counties. After all even the current politicians refer to them without people wondering what they mean. Nairobi can be run like a corporation with CEO being recruited from professional managers, subjected to a public interview. Forget about the rubberstamp "vetting" done by politicians whose minds are made up long before recruitment begins.

A rotational presidency will work well too. In places like Nyanza or Rift Valley, there can be an arrangement where the small tribes like Kuria and Kissi, or Marakwet and Ogiek are also accommodated.

[Kichwa]

Actually right now ouru is governing with no political party. Kibaki also tried a GNU and of course the NARA government.  During the Kanu baba na mama days, there was one political party and should have probably destroyed Kanu and not replace it with anything instead with many. Its like replacing one big monster with little monsters instead of No monster. Lets think outside the box, pick and choose what's good with the western democracy and throw away the monster of political partys.  Not too long ago one would listen to political debates in the US where there was a liberal and conservative. These days you either go to Fox or MSNBC and listen to a whole panel of all democrats or conservatives agreeing with each other or trying to out-do each other on who is them most liberal or the most conservative.

That's an interesting idea, no parties. Don't know how it'd work. Bazungu screwed us up. We should have slowly transformed our old councils of elders into something like a majimbo senate or advisory body, with the head of govt rotating amongst tribes. That's more like a parliamentary system. But bazungu killed Okuyu council of elders that looked out for the people to create indirect rule by promoting sharks and making them more powerful than the old councils. The sharks then screwed their people for bazungu goodies, and later, together with Kenyatta, these sharks took over the bazungu and advanced that cold greedy capitalist unafrican man-eat-man system. I don't know if we can recover the old cultures. We are transitioning into one big tribe but in the mean time it'll continue to be thorny. Africans, not just Kenyans, need to find a system that works for mwafrika. Bazungu systems were not designed to solve our problems. If anything, they created the foundation for most of them.

Yes, the tribalization of the US is scary to watch from afar. I think Americans (both sides) have simply lost the ability to be one people and fair to the other side. It's full on tribalism, looking in from the outside. I hope it doesn't turn into something more violent. I used to think that a far-fetched idea but I increasingly don't think it's an unfounded fear anymore. The U.S. is lucky its rule of law prevents militias from forming and thriving, otherwise it'd already be in a civil war by now, IMO. Maybe Americans should simply divorce...they are effectively two countries. Their institutions and their Law are the only things they have left in common.

[RV Pundit]

Absolute total nonsense. This is doa. These issues were canvased 8 yrs ago -were debated to death for 20yrs - kenyans rejected 3 tier gov - they rejected 14 proposed regions - they rejected old provincees - and kenyans  settled on 47 counties that largely mirrors tribe units. Those who voted NO - are the guys we need to listen to - and i am talking about Kurias of Migori, Sabaot of Bungoma, the Iteso of Busia and such minorities which the current constitution doesn't favour. I think some boundary alignment can be done to solve some of these issues.....otherwise our counties are okay...they will soon each have 1M people....and our population is growing..and soon each county will at least be 2M people! That size of countries like Namibia.

Parties in kenya are just nonsense - we are tribal nation - and our parties are tribes - so keeping or not keeping parties is neither here or there - we definitely need a way for tribes to coalesce and win power.

The issues of costs is really red-herring. All these constitutional office are nothing compared to real big budget hitters. If we really want to cut back on expenditure - then we need to cut back on corruption, wastage & possibly scale down on education budget (taking 25% plus of the budget). Cutting down on corruption & wastage is the tough part....it going to be ongoing struggle.

I am open to debate on expanding the executive at top level to accommodate more than just PORK & DPORK. I think kenya will be more stable and happier if we had  Executive PORK - and PM (Appointed by PORK) acting like Chief Minister - with even 4 deputies to accommodate the big tribes crumbling about the leadership of the country. And this should not be a pany route for Uhuru or anybody to extend his rule.

Ultimately the prize will remain executive PORK - and this will really not solve nothing - because we have enough flower girls now but people know the real deal is PORK.

What is needed is simple.Use 2019 census to correct boundaries of counties & constituency to deal with tribal issues & right sizing. Then for sake of having flower girls - have constitution amended to accommodate PM & 4 deputies for all big tribes - and work towards federalism - with counties allowed to levy and keep taxes.

Once we go federal - then it each county or tribe will decide their fate. They can choose to have whatever form of gov they want internally.

[Kichwa]

We are a country of many tribes and we have seen positive tribal politicals and also very negative tribal interaction.  The most regrettable tribal political polarization/expression was when Kibaki/kikuyus blatently stole the elections causing the 2007/2008 post election violence  and 2013, ouruto "tyranny of numbers" facade.  We now know from experience that our diversity can be used politically in a  positively and negatively.  The "handshake" is a positive use of our diversity while the "tyranny of numbers" was very polarizing and unsustainable and that is why Ouru dropped it.  Raila's building bridges is another example of  positive use of our diversity compared to Ruto's 2022 design where he thinks he can lock Raila and  the luos out of government by exploiting the old Mt. Raila phobia. Ashindwe!

Absolute total nonsense. This is doa. These issues were canvased 8 yrs ago -were debated to death for 20yrs - kenyans rejected 3 tier gov - they rejected 14 proposed regions - they rejected old provincees - and kenyans  settled on 47 counties that largely mirrors tribe units. Those who voted NO - are the guys we need to listen to - and i am talking about Kurias of Migori, Sabaot of Bungoma, the Iteso of Busia and such minorities which the current constitution doesn't favour. I think some boundary alignment can be done to solve some of these issues.....otherwise our counties are okay...they will soon each have 1M people....and our population is growing..and soon each county will at least be 2M people! That size of countries like Namibia.

Parties in kenya are just nonsense - we are tribal nation - and our parties are tribes - so keeping or not keeping parties is neither here or there - we definitely need a way for tribes to coalesce and win power.

The issues of costs is really red-herring. All these constitutional office are nothing compared to real big budget hitters. If we really want to cut back on expenditure - then we need to cut back on corruption, wastage & possibly scale down on education budget (taking 25% plus of the budget). Cutting down on corruption & wastage is the tough part....it going to be ongoing struggle.

I am open to debate on expanding the executive at top level to accommodate more than just PORK & DPORK. I think kenya will be more stable and happier if we had  Executive PORK - and PM (Appointed by PORK) acting like Chief Minister - with even 4 deputies to accommodate the big tribes crumbling about the leadership of the country. And this should not be a pany route for Uhuru or anybody to extend his rule.

Ultimately the prize will remain executive PORK - and this will really not solve nothing - because we have enough flower girls now but people know the real deal is PORK.

What is needed is simple.Use 2019 census to correct boundaries of counties & constituency to deal with tribal issues & right sizing. Then for sake of having flower girls - have constitution amended to accommodate PM & 4 deputies for all big tribes - and work towards federalism - with counties allowed to levy and keep taxes.

Once we go federal - then it each county or tribe will decide their fate. They can choose to have whatever form of gov they want internally.