- Did you know that Kenya got a new constitution in 2010?
- This is a document that contains laws on how the Kenyan country should be governed. It gives Kenyan citizens the freedom to exercise their sovereign power directly indirectly or by exercising their democratic rights.
- Watch this video to learn more about it.
- On August 4th 2010, the people of Kenya voted and passed a new constitution.
- The new constitution took effect on the 27th August 2010 after a promulgation ceremony at Uhuru park, which is pictured below.
- Sovereignty of the people and the supremancy of this constitution.
- The constitution states taht all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya.
- The constitution is the supreme law of the republic and binds all persons and state organs at both levels of government and the defence of this constitution.
- The constitution says that Kenya is a sovereign Republic. That is, Kenya is not ruled by another country. It then states that Kenya is a multi-party democratic state.
The constitution outlines the composition and functions of the Executive arm of government. This includes the President, the Deputy President, the cabinet secretaries, and the Attorney General.
In the constitution the Legislature has two houses: The National Assembly and the Senate. It outlines the composition of each house and how one can become a member or lose membership.
The constitution provides for the establishment of the various courts including the superior and subordinate courts. It also provides for the appointment of the Chief Justice and judges; their responsibilities and the conditions under which they may be removed from office.
It entails the objects and principles of develved governments, county governments, functions and powers of the county governments, boundaries of counties, relationship between county and national goverments, suspensions of a county government and qualifications for election as member of County Assembly.
All the rights and freedoms of an individual are outlined here.
It also states how people should exercise these rights and how they are protected
It outlines how one becomes a citizen and how one can lose citizenship.
It outlines processes through which the government acquires funds and how such funds are used.
It also includes the procedures of controlling the use of government funds through the Controller of Budget and Auditor-General.
The Public Service
There are various services under the public service which include, the Public Service Commision, Teacher Service Commission (TSC)
In the constitution land is classified as public, community and private land. It also outlines how people can use and protect the environment.
Hot air balloon safari.
Leadership and integrity
The constitution requires that all officers occupying public offices execute their duties honourably.
President Zuma and President Kenyatta on a visit to Angola.
The constitution gives citizens the freedom to exercise their political rights through elected members of the National Assembly, the Senate and the County Assembly which have representations of marginalised groups like women, youths and persons with disabilities.
The constitution provides structures through which the state and its citizens are protected against both internal and external attacks.
It outlines the composition and functions of the various commissions, for example, The National Land Commission and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
The Constitution of Kenya can only be amended in two ways. That is, amendment by parliamentsry initiative and amendment by popular initiative.
Outlines the enforcement of the constitution, the manner in which the constitution shall be interpreted, the terms used in the constitution and how they are rightly interpreted.
It is important the every Kenyan should know their rights and responsibilities under the Constitution.