1. Governance

The issue of governance is broad and all encompassing. What happens within the governance realm impacts positively or negatively on all sectors of our society. The three arms of government namely; the executive, the legislature and the judiciary play a pivotal role in determining the direction that governance takes in the country.

The enormous influence that these three arms of government have on society implies that high levels of institutional practice are to be expected. Regrettably, however, that is not the case. The executive has an overbearing presence over the other two arms of government with situations of interference reported all over the places. The legislature, which is deemed to be the main source of the country’s laws, is yet to truly live up to its mandate.

Laws are passed in the house that cannot stand the test of time. In fact, it is not once that an enacted law has had to be taken back to the house for further scrutiny or worse, the legislators expected to debate a proposed law before enactment, allow it to be passed only for them to begin criticizing the same outside the house. The much touted surgery at the judiciary at the beginning of the term of the NARC government seems to have yielded some positive outcomes but which are certainly not enough. A lot therefore still needs to be done in order to have the three arms of government meet the needs and expectations of the people of this great country.

A FORD-People led government envisions a governance situation in Kenya in which the populace has confidence in all institutions of governance based on transparent and accountable practices informed with the continued quest for service delivery that is fast, efficient and effective. In order to realize the stated vision above, a FORD-People led government proposes to implement the following:

1. In both word and deed and in every available opportunity, place and channels, implore Kenyans in whatever station in life to pay more attention to issues to do with the bigger picture as opposed to those to do with the smaller picture i.e. think Kenya all the time as opposed to the individual.

2. Endeavour to search for solutions to governance issues outside the traditional modes in order to have in place innovative ways of responding to the needs of the people

3. Ensure that the three arms of government exercise necessary independence while at the same time exhibiting visible harmony in the discharge of their various mandates

4. Lead the way on best governance practices but implore Kenyans to cultivate a culture of working through and respecting institutions

5. Put in place realistic benchmarks aimed at addressing the gender issue with a view to creating gender parity in all governance structures

6. Do everything in her power to make sure that Kenyans get a new constitution

7. Address the issue of the system of electing representatives including the president

8. Address the issue of public prosecution which at the moment is riddled with confusion enough to cause inertia and lack of confidence among the people

9. In order to streamline the justice system and to hasten the process of dispensing with cases in court, push for the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) to be given prosecutorial powers

10. Make prosecutions semiautonomous by having the same in the hands of professionals instead of having everything in the hands of the attorney general who is also the chief government legal advisor

11. Carry out public education on corruption with a view to creating awareness among the public.

12. Campaign for the streamlining of the legislative system so that the system of making laws is such that laws made can stand the test of time

13. Advocate for the appointment of more judges

14. Subject all appointments to constitutional offices to the approval of parliament so as to promote independence

15. Address the issue of disproportionate allocation of judicial powers between the magistrates and the judges…justice delayed is justice denied.

16. Address the issue of remuneration for the judicial staff with a view to boosting morale therefore improving output

17. Encourage the Human Rights Commission and other relevant agencies to educate the people more on governance and human rights issues