Maandamano, Other Key Political Events That Happened In 2023

• Politicians seeking to rally voters often advocate for the creation of new political units or the revision of borders for those that already exist
• The Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is meant to review the boundaries of wards and constituencies by March 2024
• However, TUKO.co.ke understands that changing the number of counties requires a referendum

Dennis Lubanga, a Kenyan journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than 10 years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Political leaders have been accused of igniting emotive border debates to garner support, at times resulting in conflicts, particularly in the run-up to and during election periods.

Politicians seeking to rally voters often advocate for the creation of new political units or the revision of borders for those that already exist.

The Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is meant to review the boundaries of wards and constituencies by March 2024, potentially altering the electorate in each county.

However, changing the number of counties requires a referendum.

Following the recent bipartisan talks between Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party and Kenya Kwanza, a proposal has been mooted to increase the number of counties by at least 10

Against this backdrop, TUKO.co.ke looks at the political events that shaped the nation in 2023.

1. Raila's Maandamano over cost of living

This year, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) expressed grave concerns over cases of plainclothes police officers masquerading as journalists during anti-government demonstrations.

One such incident was witnessed on Wednesday, July 19, when a police officer in civilian clothing arrested a protester after posing as a journalist covering the event.

In Mathare, Nairobi county, the anti-riot officers took on a group of rowdy youth who were armed with stones and other projectiles, ready to engage the security officers in running battles.

Videos that surfaced online showed some police officers throwing stones at the demonstrators after reportedly running out of teargas.

2. Bipartisan talks

This year, Raila gave the most apparent hint that the talks with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance might collapse.

During a press briefing on Thursday, November 16, the ODM leader said the government side must agree to the opposition's new demands.

According to the former prime minister, the proposals for reducing the cost of living are non-negotiable.

Raila revealed that President Ruto's side had explained what was possible in the current circumstances, but he insisted.

3. Cabinet reshuffle

In early October 2023, President Ruto reshaped his top team, effecting changes aimed at boosting the implementation of his agenda.

The president reshuffled Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries and sanctioned changes among the ambassadors; in so doing, the president split and renamed new ministries.

Trade and Industry CS Moses Kuria was moved to the Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management docket; he was replaced by Rebecca Miano, who initially held the last African Community, the ASALs, and the Regional Development Ministry.

Alfred Mutua, who was at the helm of the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs docket, was moved to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.

4. MPs divided over the Finance Bill

President Ruto signed the Finance Bill into law on Monday, July 26, after members of parliament (MPs) voted for it in the National Assembly.

Following the signing of the controversial bill into law, Kenyans will have to dig deeper into their pockets to finance the KSh 3.68 trillion 2023/2024 financial year budget starting on July 1.

In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, FX Pesa lead market analyst Rufas Kamau opined that the Finance Act 2023 will weaken economic growth.

Kamau explained that it was not the right time to hike taxes considering the rising cost of living, increased interest rates, and the depreciating Kenya shilling. He warned that the new act may be counterproductive.

5. Courts halt CAS appointments

This year, the Court of Appeal declined to suspend orders declaring the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) position unconstitutional.

In their ruling, Court of Appeal judges Kathurima M'inoti, Mumbi Ngugi, and Francis Tuiyott stated they were not satisfied that their appeal would be rendered worthless if they didn't stay the judgment by the High Court.

"Taking all the foregoing into account, we are not persuaded that the applicants have satisfied us that their appeal will be rendered nugatory if we do not stay the execution of the impugned judgment by the High Court," read part of the ruling by the Court of Appeal judges. Having failed to satisfy both limbs under rule 5(2) b of the Court of Appeal rules, this application fails and is dismissed with costs to those of the respondents in the four applications who appeared and opposed the applications. It is so ordered," they ruled.

The application was filed by CAS nominees led by Kenya Kwanza digital strategist Dennis Itumbi following the initial ruling by the High Court.