In light of a new bill sponsored by Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah, President William Ruto allies allege that former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s team tried to sabotage Ruto’s iunauguration ceremony.

Speaking to a local newspaper, members of the transition team representing Mr Kenyatta refused to dispatch invitation cards for the ceremony.

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“Those of us who represented Ruto as President-elect got frustrated. You agree on small things like sending out invitation cards, but people sitting at Harambee House decide to sit on them,” Attorney General Justin Muturi told Sunday Nation.

They blamed this on the composition of the transition team whose majority members entail those from the outgoing regime.

The team was chaired by the thenm Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua. The other members were members of the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC).

According to submissions made by Dr Ruto’s legal team during the Presidential election petition, the NSAC reportedly attempted to overturn his victory.

The bill to put an end to challenges witnessed by President Ruto

Ichungwah’s bill, National Government Administration Laws (Amendment) 2023, seeks to amend the Assumption of Office of the President Act, 2012.

It sets to increase the number of members representing the president-elect from three to six.

This will aid in a smooth transition especially when the outgoing administration is opposed to the incoming one.

“The bill also seeks to enhance the representation of the President-elect in the committee by increasing the number of representatives from three to six,” states the bill.

The transition committee as is now entails; Head of Public Service, Attorney General (AG), Chief of Defence Forces, Inspector General of Police, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Intyerior Principal Secretary and Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary.

Dr Ruto was represented by current AG Justin Muturi, former UDA Secretary General (now nominated MP) Veronica Maina, his chierf of staff (now Energy CS) Davis Chirchir and Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Shollei.

Punishment for members of the team

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa told Sunday Nation that he plans on proposing an amendment to punish members of the team who deliberately skive the meetings.

“If you saw what happened in the last transition, it would be in the interest of this country to have a transition team that is President-elect heavy,” said Barasa.

“Personally, I will introduce amendments to ensure those sitting in the team are punished if they refuse to attend such meetings because of political differences with the President-elect,” he added.