Ruto: The measures I have taken don’t require constitutional amendment

By Tobby Otum

The measure taken by the Kenya Kwanza administration to allow cabinet secretaries on the floor of the national assembly to answer questions does not require a constitutional amendment.

President William Ruto defended his move saying it is a way of ensuring accountability to the lawmaker’s representatives.

He insisted the move is fundamental to transparency and to the accountability of the government.

“The measure I have taken will enhance oversight role and transparency,” he pointed out.

Ruto said the move is within the threshold of his mandate.

He was speaking during the opening of a four-day post-poll retreat held at PrideInn hotel in Mombasa county.

The Head of State urged the lawmakers to expedite the process of appropriate amendment of standing orders when the house resumes.

Leader of Majority Kimani Ichungu’wah said the retreat has come at the right time at the end of a long recess after the first session of the 13th parliament.

He told the forum when the house resumes they will have a busy session with the parliament calendar of events.

“The budget circle, the finance bill, will make us busy in the next two weeks,” he pointed out.

Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi waded into the reconstitution of the controversial Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after the exit of embattled Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati.

He pointed out IEBC’s integrity is being put into question raising doubt in the electoral process of the 2027 general elections and cautioned his colleagues not to end the forum without addressing the perennial problems of the electoral body.

“Today just like the elections of 2007 which were marred with skirmishes the integrity of IEBC is being put into question,” he pointed out.

The Minority leader raised his concern about whether the electoral body is able to conduct credible elections in the near future.