Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has proposed an amendment to the law to permit Members of Parliament (MPs) to continue holding their parliamentary seats if appointed to the Cabinet. Speaking during Parliamentary proceedings, Cherargei argued that requiring MPs to resign when appointed as Cabinet Secretaries results in unnecessary costs to taxpayers due to by-elections.
“Why should we appoint a Member of Parliament, they resign, we go for a by-election, and the country incurs expenses? Let’s allow MPs in the Cabinet, give them sitting allowances, and save on salaries,” he stated.
The Senator suggested that instead of full Cabinet salaries, the MPs appointed as Cabinet members should receive sitting allowances. This, he believes, would significantly cut government expenditure while ensuring continuity in legislative representation.
Beyond this proposal, Cherargei also advocated for a broader restructuring of the executive branch, emphasizing the need to accommodate Kenya’s diverse political landscape. He recommended the creation of a Prime Minister position and two Deputy Prime Ministers, as outlined in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.
“Even as NADCO is being processed, we must broaden the executive. The current Constitution only has the President and Deputy President, which does not accommodate the divergent nature of Kenya,” Cherargei remarked.
The Senator further explained that Kenya’s “winner-takes-it-all” system has fueled heightened political tensions, and expanding the executive would help mitigate this challenge. “The reason we have heightened campaigns, jostling, and pushing for executive powers is because winner takes it all, and there are only two positions. The executive branch must have the President, DP, Prime Minister, and his two deputies,” he asserted.
Cherargei’s remarks were made during the debate on the Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No.10 of 2024), one of the nine bills designed to implement the NADCO report. The NADCO initiative was a product of the political truce between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga, aimed at fostering consensus after the 2023 protests.
The NADCO report focuses on five key areas: constitutional matters, electoral justice, establishment of state offices, fidelity to political parties and coalitions, and the entrenchment of government funds into the Constitution. While the NADCO process had stalled for months, it has recently gained momentum following the renewed collaboration between Ruto and Raila.
Cherargei’s proposal is expected to spark significant debate among lawmakers and the public, with opinions likely to be divided on whether the move strengthens governance or compromises the principle of separation of powers.
