In Kenya, president proposes four constitutional amendments including to constitutionalize office of the official leader of the opposition

On 9 December, in a memorandum to the national assembly and the Senate, President Ruto asked parliamentarians to amend Chapter 9 of the Constitution and create an office of the official leader of the opposition, to amend what he said was a constitutional shortfall on the full post-election fate of the minority side. Ruto added that reestablishing the role of an official leader of the opposition will institutionalise governance, strengthen oversight, and deepen democracy in Kenya. He also wanted Parliamentary standing orders to be amended to facilitate the participation of Cabinet Secretaries or Chief Administrative Secretaries in Parliamentary proceedings and to ensure they respond to questions posed by elected Members of Parliament. Ruto also asked Parliament to reform a law on gender equality to ensure more female MPs are nominated. [...] President Ruto says the proposals should be enacted by Parliament in accordance with article 256 whereby both houses of the National Assembly and Senate can initiate changes that must be supported by at least two-thirds of all elected members. Doing so would avoid dividing the country politically as was the case following the August polls. But constitutional experts say the amendments must be subjected to a referendum.
Read the full article here: Africa Report