The Prime Minister of Kenya was a post in the Kenyan government. The first Prime Minister of Kenya was
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta (22 August 1978) was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978. He was the country's first indigenous ...
, who became Prime Minister in 1963. In 1964, Kenya became a
republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
, the post of Prime Minister was abolished and Jomo Kenyatta became
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
. Following a
power-sharing agreement in February 2008, the role was recreated that April and held by
Raila Odinga
Raila Amolo Odinga (born 7 January 1945) is a Kenyan politician, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata and businessman who served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013. He is assumed to be the Leader of Opposition in Kenya sin ...
. The position was again abolished by the
2010 Constitution
The Constitution of Kenya is the supreme lawof the Republic of Kenya. There have been three significant versions of the constitution, with the most recent redraft being enabled in 2010. The 2010 edition replaced the 1963 independence constitu ...
after the
2013 elections.
The
proposed 2021 constitutional referendum would have decided whether to constitutionally reestablish the office. The process of the proposed amendments to the constitution, was declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
of Kenya On 31 March 2022. The court also barred the
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in the year 2011 through the making of the Constitution of Kenya. The Commission is responsible for conducting or supervising refer ...
from proceeding with the referendum.
History
In 1 June 1963,
Dominion of Kenya
The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire.
"Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 Im ...
had her first Prime Minister. The head of state remained
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...
who was represented through a Governor-General in Kenya.
The Governor-General could then select a Prime Minister from whichever political party that had the majority in the House of Representatives; the Prime Minister would be head of government;
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta (22 August 1978) was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978. He was the country's first indigenous ...
was elected as the first Prime Minister of Kenya in 27 May 1963. The Prime Minister office was only effective up to 12 December 1964, before Kenya became a republic; Kenyatta became president.
Following the
2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
The 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis was a violent political, economic, and humanitarian crisis that erupted in Kenya after former President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election held on December 27, 2007. Supporters of Ki ...
, President
Mwai Kibaki
Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki (15 November 1931 – 21 April 2022) was a Kenyan politician who served as the third President of Kenya from December 2002 until April 2013 and is regarded as one of Kenya's founding fathers.
He had previously ser ...
and
Raila Odinga
Raila Amolo Odinga (born 7 January 1945) is a Kenyan politician, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata and businessman who served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013. He is assumed to be the Leader of Opposition in Kenya sin ...
reached an agreement to form a coalition government in 28 February 2008.
Kibaki was to remain the Head of State, while Odinga would have a new role of Prime Minister. Both would appoint half the cabinet. Both leading coalitions produced a deputy Prime Minister—
Musalia Mudavadi
Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi (born 21 September 1960) is a Kenyan politician and land economist who is currently serving as the Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya. Until October 2022, he was also the party leader of the Amani National Congress (ANC ...
for
ODM, and
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022.
Kenyatta was chosen by Daniel Arap Moi as his preferred successor, but Kenyatta was defeated by opposition le ...
for
PNU. The Prime Minister office was reestablished through the
National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008 The National Accord and Reconciliation Act of 2008 is an act of the National Assembly of Kenya that temporarily re-established the offices of Prime Minister of Kenya, along with the creation of two deputy prime ministers. This act followed the Febru ...
.
The post was abolished in 2013 after the current
Constitution of Kenya
The Constitution of Kenya is the supreme lawof the Republic of Kenya. There have been three significant versions of the constitution, with the most recent redraft being enabled in 2010. The 2010 edition replaced the 1963 independence constitu ...
was effected, which did not provide for the office of Prime Minister, making Kenya a purely presidential system.
Efforts have been initiated to reintroduced the office through constitutional amendment through the
Building Bridges Initiative constitutional referendum attempt.
On 31 March 2022, the
Supreme Court of Kenya
The Supreme Court of Kenya is the Supreme court, highest court in Kenya. It is established under Article 163 of the constitution of Kenya, Kenyan Constitution. As the highest court in the nation, its decisions are binding and set precedent on all ...
upheld the rulings of the lower courts, ruling that, "The Constitution Amendment Bill of 2020 is unconstitutional," because President Kenyatta
huru Huru may refer to:
* Hiurud, an Iranian village also known as Hūrū
* Chronicle of Huru, forged 19th century text about Romanian history in Moldavia
* Mbira huru, African wood and metal key instrument, similar to a marimba
* Dickson Huru (born 199 ...
initiated the amendments through his creation of the Presidential Taskforce on Building Bridges to Unity Advisory, and vocal endorsement of the legislation crafted based on their findings.
Prime ministers of Kenya (1963–1964; 2008–2013)
;Parties
See also
*
List of colonial governors of Kenya
This article contains a list of chairmen, administrators, commissioners and governors of British Kenya Colony.
The office of Governor of Kenya was replaced by the office of Governor General in 1963 and then later replaced by a President of Kenya ...
*
List of heads of state of Kenya
This is a list of the heads of state of Kenya, from the independence of Kenya in 1963 to the present day.
From 1963 to 1964 the head of state under the Constitution of 1963 was the queen of Kenya, Elizabeth II, who was also the queen of the ...
*
Lists of incumbents
These are lists of incumbents (individuals holding offices or positions), including heads of states or of subnational entities.
A historical discipline, archontology, focuses on the study of past and current office holders.
Incumbents may also ...
*
Politics of Kenya
The politics of Kenya take place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Kenya is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system in accordance with a new constitutio ...
*
Prime Cabinet Secretary
The Prime Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Kenya is a post in the executive arm of the Government of Kenya created on 27 September 2022.
History
On 27 September 2022, President William Ruto issued and signed a Presidential executive order ...
References
External links
*
Prime ministers
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
Kenya
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Prime minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
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