Raila Picks New Fight With Ruto Over Establishment of Key Govt Role
On Monday, Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio, alleged that President William Ruto is scheming to officially establish the role of National Security Advisor in a manner that goes beyond constitutional boundaries.
Raila asserted in a declaration that the National Government Administration Laws Amendment Bill 2023, introduced by Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah in November of the previous year, was a means by which the President sought to undermine the constitution, restructure the national security framework, and appoint one of his associates to a key position.
Monica Juma, who previously served as the Cabinet Secretary for Defence and Energy, currently holds the position of National Security Advisor. Nevertheless, the 2010 Constitution prohibits her from participating in National Security Council (NSC) meetings.
Only individuals holding the positions of President, Deputy President, Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Chief of Defence Forces, Attorney General, and Cabinet Secretaries overseeing Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Defence have the privilege of attending the meetings.
Therefore, the ex-Prime Minister highlighted that the legislation contradicts the Constitution, which delineates the principles and composition of the NSC.
According to Raila, the creation of any additional role proposed by the Bill would be unnecessary and contrary to the nation’s welfare.
“We can also foresee the occupant acting as a gatekeeper between the President and the other heads of the national security organs.”
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“The occupant of this office is just a personal aide to the President with no statutory defined roles, no reporting structure, and no alignment to the bureaucracy,” Raila stated.
Raila states that the Bill aims to deviate from the usual practice of Council members appointing the Secretary, proposing instead that the National Security Advisor assume the role of the Council’s Secretary.
Raila strongly disagreed, arguing that the Bill failed to clearly define the proposed roles. He asserted that introducing such a position would disrupt the independence of the defense forces, intelligence community, and the National Police Service (NPS).
“Kenya Kwanza must drop this interference with the constitutional architecture concerning our national security. Azimio will fight this latest maneuver to take total control of the national security machinery,” he reiterated.
The suggested legislation includes the establishment of a fresh subcommittee consisting of nine members.
Raila Picks New Fight With Ruto Over Establishment of Key Govt Role
