Bill on direct mayoral elections before Cabinet
Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi. He has said a Bill seeking the direct election of mayors and council chairpersons is awaiting discussion before the Cabinet. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
Mayors and council chairpersons will be required to have at least a university degree and served in a managerial position for 10 years.
Current system where mayors are elected by councillors corrupt.
Council bosses to serve for five years if Parliament passes Bill.
A Bill whose enactment will see Kenya mayors and council chairpersons elected directly by the people has been tabled in the Cabinet.
Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi said the Bill is awaiting discussion before being tabled in Parliament.
Addressing journalists at Jogoo House after flagging off solid waste management vehicles given by France organisation AFD, the Deputy Prime Minister said if passed the law will also see the council bosses serving for five years as opposed to the current situation where elections are held mid-term.
The proposed changes will see Cap 265 of Local Government Act amended so that mayors and council chairpersons would be required to have at least a university degree and served in a managerial position for 10 years.
“We want to go the way other countries did where mayors and council chairmen are elected directly with a clear five year mandate. Mid-term elections create instability in councils,” Mr Mudavadi said and cited Paris (France) and London (Britain) as some of the cities where mayors were elected directly by voters.
The current system where mayors and chairpersons are elected by councillors has been said to be fraught with corruption.
By-laws
Mr Mudavadi also said new building by-laws were being developed to improve efficiency and security.
He added that he will sign new Nairobi city council by-laws, which seek, among other things, to penalise owners of dogs who leave them to stray, if brought to him.
The minister said the election of council chairmen and mayors was going on well and that 50 percent of the 175 civic authorities in the country had conducted them.
“There are no serious incidents. I appeal to the remaining authorities not to embarrass us by engaging in fist fights as they are leaders on their own rights and should lobby each other in a dignified manner. Whoever wins should be given an opportunity to serve,” Mr Mudavadi said.
The elections started on July 1 and the councils have up to August 15 to complete them. The minister ruled out an extension of the period.
