Building Bridges Initiative Proposals: Consociational Democracy and the Constitution of Kenya 2010

Abstract

In 2018 Kenya established a task force commonly known as the "Building Bridges Initiative ". The aim of the taskforce was to generate constitutional amendment proposals that could, amongst other objectives, remedy cyclic ethnic conflict during presidential elections. On 26 Noven1ber 2019, the task force report was unveiled at Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi. The recommendations of the taskforce bore features of a constitutional democracy. They included proposals for a change of Kenya's electoral system form majoritarian to proportional representation; re-establishment of the Office of the Official Opposition and the position of Prime Minister; and the selection of members of the cabinet from amongst elected Members of Parliament. This article examines these proposals within the frame work of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.it argues that the proposals may unravel the framework that underpins the Constitution of Kenya 2010. It concludes by proposing that the task force craft other possible remedies that do not offend the democratic underpinnings of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.