JPRC MATERIALS FOR CIVIC EDUCATION

JANUARY -MARCH 2013

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

THANK YOU & GOD BLESS!!