ODM Deputy party Leader H E Governor Ali Hassan Joho, Photo courtesy.
By E Njenga
I still can’t understand how the ongoing handshakes craze is going to deliver the purported everlasting post election peace.
If the thinking is that creating more positions will deepen inclusion, then such a process requires a united front by both the political class and the citizenry.
A divisive constitutional referendum will be of no value to the country.
Constitution amendment should not be done for political expediency but for posterity. The process should begin with a thorough review of the current constitution and the shortcomings noted in the last eight years.
The review should go beyond changing the structure of the executive. There are a lot of important issues such as devolution and the bloated yet moribund legislature, that need urgent attention.
The economic viability of the devolved units should be given more weight. Unless counties become financially independent devolution remains at risk.
We also need to assess how parliament became an impotent rubber stamp under the current system of governance. Many of the ills facing the country can be attributed to an ineffective parliament.
Lastly, handshakes aimed at burying the past rather than addressing it will yield nothing. If handshakes can cleanse economic criminals, the history of looting the country will gladly repeat itself.
