JPRC MATERIALS FOR CIVIC EDUCATION JANUARY -MARCH 2013
Dec 14, 2015
Elective Positions 6 elective positions
◦President ◦Governor◦Senator◦Member of Parliament◦Women Representative ◦County Representative
• 2 levels of Government – National & County
THE NEW STRUCTURE AND SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE IN KENYA
President +Deputy Governor +Deputy
NATIONAL GOVERMENT
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
NATIONAL PARLIAMENT
JUDICIARY SERVING BOTH
GOVERNMENT
S
COUNTY ASSEMBLY
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
CABINET
PRESIDENT +
DEPUTY +
14-22 MEMBERS
NATIONALASSEMBL
Y
349 MEMBERS
+ SPEAKER
SENATE
67 MEMBER
S +SPEAKER
SUPREME COURT
COURT OF APPEAL
HIGH COURT
SURBODINATE COURTS
ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS ELECTED
FROM NEW WARDS
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS:NOT MORE THAN 1/3
OF ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT Where is the President situated?
◦National Government in the Executive
◦National Executive : President Deputy President Cabinet Secretaries : 14 - 22
ROLE OF PRESIDENT Head of State and Government Commander in Chief of the Kenya
Defence Forces Chairperson of the National Security
Council Symbol of national unityNominates, appoints and dismisses
(with NA approval) Attorney General, cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, ambassadors, high-commissioners
ROLE OF PRESIDENT Directs and coordinates the
functions of ministries and government departments
Ensures the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law
Promotes respect for the diversity of the people and communities of Kenya
Promotes and enhance the unity of the nation
Ensures that the international obligations of the republic are fulfilled
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION First round + =
More than Half of all the votes cast in the
election.(50%+1)
At least Twenty-five per cent of all votes cast in more than 24
counties
Winner
Top Two Candidates
Election within 30
days
Most votes in the fresh
election
Winner
RUN OFF
SENATOR One of the 4 new elective
positions
Where is the senator situated?◦National Government in Parliament◦Parliament has two houses: National
Assembly & Senate
COMPOSITION OF SENATE
47 MEMBERS ELECTED IN THE COUNTIES BY REGISTERED VOTERS
16 WOMEN MEMBERS
NOMINATED BY POLITICAL PARTIES
SPEAKER APPOINTED FROM NON-ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
2 MEMBERS
repre
sentin
g PWDs
2 MEMBERS
representing Youth
ROLE OF THE SENATOR Represents the county –
“Ambassador”Making laws for the county
government Budgeting process – allocation of
national revenue among counties Oversight over revenue allocated
to county Oversight of state officers – final
vote in impeachment of President and Deputy President
MEMBER OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY One of the old elective positions Where is the Member of National
Assembly situated? ◦ National Government in Parliament ◦ Parliament has 2 houses – National Assembly and Senate
COMPOSITION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY composition
290 Members elected by voters per
Constituency
47 Women Elected
per County
12 Members Nominated to represent special interests
1 SPEAKER
ROLE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Represent the people at the Constituency and special interests in the National
AssemblyMakes national lawsDecide on allocation of national revenue
between national govt & county govtOversight over state organs, revenue &
expenditureReview conduct of President, Deputy
President & other state officers and may initiate removal process
GOVERNOR One of the new elective positionsWhere is the Governor situated?
◦County government in the Executive ◦County Executive:
Governor Deputy Governor County executive committee
ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR Chief executive of the county – “Manager”
Makes laws for the county government
Exercise oversight over county executive organs
Receives and approves plans for the county
Head of members of county executive committee
WARD REPRESENTATIVE One of new elective positions Where is the county
representative situated? ◦In the County Government –
Legislature ◦Legislature 1 house- County
Assembly
COMPOSITION OF THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY
composition
1 person
elected
per ward
Members nominated by
political parties to ensure 2/3
gender principle
4 persons with
disability
4 youths
SPEAKER ELECTED BY MEMBERS FROM NON-MEMBERS
ROLE OF THE WARD REPRESENTATIVE County assembly - Make laws for the county govt Exercise oversight over county
executive organs Receive and approve plans and
policies for the counties
LeadershipConsequences of:
Good Leadership Bad Leadership
Protection of political and civil rights
No protection of civil and political rights
Equal opportunities for all Discrimination /unequal opportunities
Confidence in the state and its organs
There is no respect for the rule of law in the state
Democracy is strengthened Democracy is eroded
The economy grows, poverty is reduced
Poverty and Corruption levels continue to increase
Health, education and social welfare are improved
Health, education and social welfare becomes worse
National cohesion and unity improves
Negative ethnicity increases
Levels of unemployment are reduced
The economy does not grow, resulting in high levels of unemployment
LeadershipQualities of a good leaderAccountable to the peopleAvailable for consultation by the
peopleResponsive to the needs of the peopleHonestOf integrityApproachable and understandingOpen and accessiblePrincipled and tolerantFair and just in handling dispute
The Role of Citizens in the Electoral processUnderstanding political rights and
obligations provided for in the constitution
Actively participating in electoral activities like voter registration, being a candidate in an election, joining /supporting a political party, or independent candidates
Interrogating party and candidate’s manifestos and campaign messages
Turning out to voteAccepting official elections results
The Role of Citizens in the Electoral process-cont’Refraining from acts that may cause
or create breach of peace e.g violence, intimidation and bribery
Promoting peace and tolerance to different/competing political opinions
Reporting any form of election malpractices tp relevant authorities.
ELECTION OFFENCESDevelop or be in a possession of a
register of voters, a voters card or supply a voters card or ballot paper without authority
Be in possession of another person’s voters card
Destroy, damage or alter anything in the voters card, ballot paper or any other election material
Sell or purchase a voters card or ballot paper
Register more than onceVote or attempt to vote more than
once
ELECTION OFFENCESPut into the ballot box anything other
than ballot paperBe in possession of ballot paper or
other election materials outside a polling station
Mark on another persons ballot paper when not authorized
Interfere with another persons right to secrecy of the ballot
Pretend to be unable to read or write or pretend to be visually impaired in order to be assisted
ELECTION OFFENCESChant or wear election materials into a
polling stationObtain information from voter on their
preferred candidateCommunicate with a voter once given
a ballot paper except the presiding officer
Accept any food staff or monies or any other rewards from candidates or their agents
Compel, intimidate or force a person to vote or support a particular candidate or political party
ELECTION OFFENCESImpersonate anybody in the electoral
processTreat ,unduly influence or bribe in the
electoral processInterfere in campaigns using abusive
language, inciting to violence, use of force or preventing the conduct of any political meeting
A candidate use of public resources to campaign.
A candidate trying to influence the result of an election