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Kenya parliamentary committee abolishes prime minister position in draft constitution

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Kenya's Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Thursday recommended eliminating the position of prime minister in the country's draft constitution. Other PSC proposals include an expanded parliament, with some seats guaranteed to women, a prohibition on members of parliament serving in cabinet positions to maintain a separation of powers, and a presidency that requires a candidate to receive a majority of the popular vote as well as at least a quarter of the vote in at least half the counties. The PSC will share its decisions with Kenya's Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review for it to consider. Last week, the PSC decided that it would not recommend marriage rights for women equal to those of men. The first draft of the constitution was unveiled in November. The changes are intended to reduce the widespread injustice throughout the country, and specifically address issues that led to violence following the 2007 presidential elections. In October, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan called for constitutional reform in Kenya before the next electoral cycle begins in 15 months. In 2007, tens of thousands of protesters took to Kenya's streets accusing President Mwai Kibaki of election fraud after early opinion polls suggested rival Raila Odinga was in the lead.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 29, 2010 (boomark / email).