Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who was recently relieved of his duties by President William Ruto, has thrown his weight behind Raila Odinga’s call to review the 2010 Constitution of Kenya.
On Sunday, Kuria pointed at the rejection of the Bomas Draft Constitution and argued how it led the country to try various government systems including coalitions, Handshake, and now broad-based government, to avoid tackling the real issues.
“I fully support Raila Odinga’s call for a return to the Bomas Draft. Over the last 19 years since the rejection of Bomas, we have gone in circles with artificial experiments like Grand Coalition, Handshake and now Broad Based Government. We have skirted around to avoid the inevitable,” Kuria said on X.
Kuria, who held his docket until July 11 when President William Ruto dismissed his entire cabinet following the protests staged by Gen Z against his government, pledged his full commitment to supporting the formation of a national constitution.
“I will offer my full devotion and commitment towards a National Constitutional conference towards the Bomas Draft.”
His comment followed Odinga’s statement on Saturday, in which Odinga suggested that the upcoming national discussion on issues highlighted by Gen Z might prompt a review of the constitution. Odinga emphasised that it was time for Kenya to examine the 2010 Constitution to address its shortcomings.
“Kenyans met at the Bomas of Kenya and deliberated for a very long time and came up with a very progressive constitution. That constitution was bastardized to a certain extent during the so-called Naivasha process,” Raila said.
“We must go back to the Bomas draft constitution, put it back on the table and see how what needs to be cleaned up so that we can have a progressive constitution.”
What is Bomas Draft?
The Bomas Draft was a draft constitution of Kenya; it was the product of an expansive consultative process that started in 2004 under the leadership of Prof. Yash Pal Ghai. It featured key reforms: a bicameral legislature with a Senate and a National Assembly, a hybrid executive system with both a President and a Prime Minister, and strong provisions for leadership integrity and devolution.
The comprehensive approach, however, encountered a lot of resistance from political elites and was substantially diluted in the subsequent amendments and political manoeuvres, finally coming up with a weaker constitution adopted in 2010. Notwithstanding, the Bomas Draft is remembered for its all-inclusive, progressive vision substantially changed before it could come to complete realization.
The calls for a return to the Bomas Draft have been rejected by some Kenyans, citing that, actually, the problem was not the Constitution of 2010 in itself but in the political class wilfully choosing to frustrate its implementation and disrespect it.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
