Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for a renewed commitment to making Kenya’s Constitution work better for citizens, saying the country’s focus 16 years after its promulgation should move beyond defending the document to ensuring its principles are felt in the daily lives of Kenyans.
Mudavadi made the remarks during the Katiba Day Symposium, where he joined President William Ruto in reflecting on Kenya’s constitutional journey since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary said the passage of 16 years provides an opportunity for the country to assess not only what was contained in the Constitution, but also how effectively its provisions have translated into meaningful improvements for citizens.
He noted that the Constitution has brought significant changes to Kenya’s governance landscape, including strengthening devolution, expanding citizens’ rights, deepening public participation and bringing government services and decision-making closer to the people.
According to Mudavadi, the country has also reached a level of maturity where it can objectively examine the successes and shortcomings of the constitutional framework and identify areas that require improvement.
He said the conversation surrounding the Constitution should therefore not be limited to protecting what was achieved in 2010, but should also focus on finding ways of making constitutional governance more responsive to the changing needs of Kenyans.
Mudavadi further observed that Kenya is undergoing rapid technological and economic transformation, with digital technology, the digital economy and Artificial Intelligence increasingly influencing how people live, work and interact with institutions.
He said these developments require the country’s laws and institutions to evolve so that they remain relevant and capable of responding to emerging challenges and opportunities.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary, however, cautioned that laws and institutions alone cannot deliver the Kenya envisioned under the Constitution, stressing that the values guiding those entrusted with public responsibility remain equally important.
He emphasized the need for integrity, responsibility and commitment to the public interest in the exercise of leadership and the management of public institutions.
Mudavadi said constitutionalism should ultimately be measured by the experiences of ordinary citizens rather than simply by the existence of laws, institutions and constitutional provisions.
He pointed to fairer institutions, accountable leadership, effective government and improved outcomes for citizens as some of the practical indicators through which Kenyans should be able to experience the benefits of constitutional governance.
His remarks come as Kenya continues to reflect on the progress made since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, which fundamentally reshaped the country’s governance structure and introduced a stronger framework for the protection of rights, public participation and devolved government.
Mudavadi said the responsibility facing Kenyans after 16 years is therefore not merely to defend the Constitution, but to ensure that it continues to serve the people effectively in a rapidly changing society.
He said the country must remain willing to evaluate its constitutional journey honestly, preserve the gains already made and address areas where implementation has fallen short.
The message placed renewed emphasis on the need for constitutionalism to move from the realm of legal and political debate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens, with government institutions expected to become more accountable, responsive and effective.
As Kenya looks ahead, Mudavadi said the continued success of the Constitution will depend not only on the strength of its legal provisions, but also on the willingness of leaders, institutions and citizens to uphold its values and ensure that public interest remains at the center of governance.
