Eric Theuri, the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), has voiced strong opposition to a proposed law that would establish the office of the Official Leader of the Opposition in Kenya.
This move, if approved, would grant individuals like Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party, and future elected officials the authority to appoint supporters to constitutional and independent commissions. It would also enable them to frequently address the nation and Parliament.
Theuri’s primary contention is that this office contradicts the current constitutional framework.
He expressed his concerns on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show, stating that creating such an office would require a significant overhaul of the entire Constitution. He believes that this overhaul is impractical and unnecessary.
Under the proposed bill, the officeholder would be funded by taxpayers and have the power to seek additional funding from donors to support their activities.
Theuri, however, argues that launching such an initiative would be unwise given the country’s challenging economic conditions and high living costs.
Kenya’s current Constitutional structure, according to Theuri, was designed to guide the nation towards a new promise, but its full realization has been hindered by political motivations.
He asserts that some individuals are attempting to undermine the Constitution and return to a majoritarian leadership, where the Head of the Executive could potentially become more powerful than the Constitution itself.
The National Dialogue Committee recently initiated discussions on various topics, including the proposed office of the Official Leader of the Opposition.
While President William Ruto has expressed support for the idea, stating that it could help keep the government in check, Theuri’s opposition highlights the ongoing debate and divisions surrounding this significant constitutional change.
