Kenya: A new constitution ahead


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Shortly after US president George Bush said that there must be an immediate halt to violence, while calling for justice for the victims of abuse and a full return to democracy, a proposal was put forward by both rival ODM and PNU parties.

Shortly after US president George Bush said that there must be an immediate halt to violence, while calling for justice for the victims of abuse and a full return to democracy, a proposal was put forward by both rival ODM and PNU parties.

In a statement made to Reuters, Mutala Kilonzo a government negotiator said “Both parties have reached agreement on a wide-ranging sphere of issues affecting the country”. This agreement is to be translated into a review of the constitution. Without giving much detail on a four page document drawn by the two parties which Kilonzo described as “serious constitutional, legal and institutional reforms”, this reform is expected to be made within a year.

Some Western countries threatened travel bans and other consequences should the talks spearheaded by former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, be met with hostility. Annan’s plan to create a grand coalition Tuesday caused an uproar among the pro- Kibaki politicians with PNU negotiation leader, Martha Karua, writing a protest letter to Annan over his proposal for elections after a two-year period. “We have sent a protest letter to the chair of the mediation (Annan). We didn’t agree to elections after two years. Annan said the issue had been agreed on.

In response to the call on the justice system to solve the issue on the abuse of victims by Mr. George Bush, Justice Minister Martha Karua said “optimism is not the same as reality”. She further confirmed that progress is being made although an agreement had not been reached.

Foreign Minister of Germany, Gernot Erler, was present at the talks to shed light on how grand coalitions work. This was during a session on power sharing and division of ministerial portfolios.

The government has promised a resettlement department to deal woth displaced people and finding a solution to their return home as well as the contruction of 32 police stations in the sensitive areas.

Meanwhile, the US secretary of state, Condoleeza Rice is due to arrive in Kenya on Monday to help with the negotiations.

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