The Senate has received a petition urging the creation of a legal framework that would allow citizens to initiate the recall of the president and county governors.
Speaker Amason Kingi informed senators on Thursday that the petition had been formally submitted and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights for review.
According to Kingi, the petition was submitted through the clerk by Mr. Laban Omusundi and invokes Article 119(1) of the Constitution, which grants every person the right to petition Parliament on matters within its authority, including the enactment, amendment, or repeal of legislation.
“Honorable Senators, I hereby report to the Senate that a petition has been submitted through the Clerk by Mr. Laban Omusundi concerning the enactment of a legal framework to provide for citizen-initiated recall of the President and County Governors,” Kingi said.
Kingi outlined the key issues raised by the petitioner, noting that while the Constitution provides for the recall of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), it does not offer a clear or enforceable mechanism for citizens to recall the president or county governors.
The petition argues that this gap leaves a significant accountability vacuum, especially given the extensive executive powers and control over public resources held by these offices. It also points out that current removal processes, such as impeachment, are handled solely by legislative bodies, including the National Assembly, the Senate, and county assemblies, which can, in some instances, be influenced by political interests or compromise.
Furthermore, the petition contends that impeachment proceedings have increasingly taken on a political character rather than functioning strictly as constitutional safeguards. It warns that when oversight institutions are perceived as compromised, citizens lack a direct democratic instrument to uphold governance and accountability standards.
Speaker Kingi clarified that the matters raised in the petition are not pending before any court or constitutional body.
“The issues raised in the petition are not pending before any court of law or any other constitutional or legal body. Consequently, the petitioner prays that the Senate intervene by initiating and enacting legislation to provide for a citizen-driven recall mechanism for the president and governors in circumstances where the relevant oversight and accountability systems are compromised,” Kingi said.
In line with Standing Order 238(1), the petition has been referred to the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights for consideration. Under Standing Order 238(2), the committee is expected to submit its report within 60 calendar days.
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