Key speakers on Monday proposed various amendments to the Building Bridges Initiative report.
The leaders termed the report "an excellent document" that can be made even better if amendments are made to some proposals.
They spoke during its official launch of the report at the Bomas of Kenya.
ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi said his party consulted widely and came to the conclusion that the BBI is a great document only that it needs some improvements.
“The document has good provisions that need to be enacted as soon as possible but there are few areas that require refining,” he said.
Mudavadi said the document needs to re-look at how the Senate can be strengthened now that more money will be going to the counties.
“The role of the Senate has been degraded. The Senate is the anchor of devolution and thus should be strengthened. This area requires a review,” he added.
The BBI proposes to increase the minimum share of revenue to 35 per cent. Counties have been receiving a minimum of 15 per cent of the most-recent audited revenue accounts of the national government.
Mudavadi faulted the recommendation that a Judiciary Ombudsman is appointed by the President. He argued that the independence of the Judiciary would be eroded if the appointment is made by the President.
The BBI provides for the nomination and appointment of the Ombudsman for a five-year term by the President with the approval of the National Assembly.
“It would be good to make the Judiciary more independent. To enhance the independence of the Judiciary, the appointment of the Ombudsman should be done by the Chief Justice, not the head of state,” he said.
Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli said the powers conferred on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) needed to be reduced.
He said SRC's new mandate would render unions useless as the commission would have its powers expanded to negotiate and set the salaries of public servants.
“Matters to do with salaries should be agreements between employers and employees. We will be violating international agreements on labour matters when we allow the SRC to determine certain things,” he said.
Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary general Wilson Sossion hailed the report as a wonderful document that promises to transform the country.
He, however, said the document needs some improvements before it is subjected to a referendum. “We should all come together and support it. Where there are gaps, there should be room to correct them. I call for more engagement,” he said.
Edited by A.N