Deputy President William Ruto has proposed a review of the constitution that would accommodate election losers in the running of the country.
The DP said every time Kenya holds an election, politicians only expect one outcome: to win.
“The real problem in our country is not the management of the election….if you go to an election only expecting to win, then you have a problem…because the options when you go to an election are you win or you don’t win,” he said in his address at Chatham House in London.
According to him, the country’s greatest challenge is that there are people who do not believe in democratic elections.
Dr Ruto said a reconfiguration of the constitution that makes election losers active would boost accountability in the government.
“In a presidential race, I would propose that the first runners up should automatically be the leader of the opposition,” he said.
The Deputy President explained that the first runners up and his or her running mate would also become Members of Parliament.
He further noted that the Deputy President would assume the Leader of Government Business position in Parliament adding that the formation should be replicated in counties.
“In my considered opinion, the Senate should be converted into an Upper House. As it is, it is in between many things.
“More importantly, Cabinet Secretaries should be ex-officio Members of Parliament where they can attend a session every week to respond to issues of national importance,” he added.
He said the move would be aimed at connecting the legislature and the executive and therefore boost service delivery to Kenyans.
Dr Ruto, however, insisted that Cabinet Secretaries should not be picked from among the Members of Parliament.
While posing a question to the audience on whether the country is ready for the review of the constitution, the Deputy President said it is up to Kenyans to make that decision.
He said despite some challenges such as overlapping and duplication of functions, gains have been made since the promulgation of the constitution in 2010.
“It has placed emphasis on delivery, implementation and taken away the prerogative powers of the executive,” he noted.
Dr Ruto told the audience that the integration of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda into a single market had ushered in a new era where investors can freely move from the five-member bloc with limited restrictions.