[Activist Okiya Omtatah. He wants to table a Bill that will Kenya go the American way in voting.] (Photo/Kahawatungu)
Activist Okiya Omtatah has drafted a Bill that will change the voting patterns in the country if passed.
Omtatah’s Bill is seeking to amend the Constitution and go the American way, which will include having the Electoral College system of voting to elect a president.
The Draft Amendment Bill 2017 seeks to amend Article 138 of the Constitution and resort to electing the president and his deputy by the electoral vote.
The current system gives the president and his deputy mandate to take power by winning the popular vote.
“Each one of the 47 counties shall constitute one presidential electoral point and each one of the 290 constituencies shall also constitute one presidential electoral point,” the draft partly reads.
“Minority groups Total number of electoral points for electing the President shall be 337, representing 290 constituencies plus 47 counties, it adds.
Omtatah argues that by passing the Bill and devolving the presidency will cater for the minority groups and enhance unity.
“By making the votes of a given county an all-or-nothing affair, minority groups can provide the critical edge that enables a candidate to win. This will encourage candidates to court a wide variety of such minorities and advocacy groups,” the Bill reads.
This will be seen by many who ‘feel left out’ with the current system as the best system to ensure all feel incorporated in subsequent governments.