Kenya Referendum
Kenya gets new constitution, buries its demons with vote
Interim Independent Electoral Commission chairman Ahmed Isaack Hassan during a briefing on the Kenya referendum at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi, August 4, 2010. Photo/WILLIAM OERI
Posted Thursday, August 5 2010 at 04:29
At the height of the campaigns, he got in a verbal spat with an unusually animated Kibaki. If that did anything, it seems to have convinced nearly all the undecided voters to fall on the Yes side. Commentators noted that every time Mr Moi opened his mouth to criticise the proposed constitution, he recruited 1,000 votes for the Yes.
For Kenya as a country, a Yes vote is also some form of national redemption. In December 2002, Kenya became the first country in the wider Eastern Africa where an opposition ousted a long-ruling party through a democratic vote.
But the euphoria soon dissipated as the opposition coalition descended into bickering and the same kind of corruption that had discredited the Moi regime. The post-election violence that followed the December 2007 poll, enveloped Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, in a cloud of despair and self-doubt.
With this referendum, the interim election commission organised easily the most efficient and open vote in Africa. And, after being caught asleep on the job last time, this time the security services left nothing to chance.
Security forces were deployed in large numbers in the volatile Rift Valley, where most of the last post-election and displacements took place.
In the event, the voting ended without incident.
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Submitted by kenmakokhaPosted August 06, 2010 05:09 PM
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Submitted by ThuoGatune
Jakimamo wacha hii maneno ilale. Lets all forgive and forget what happened in 2007/8. Kalenjines are Kenyans by right and we cannot deny that previous Governments failed or appeared to have failed to tackle serious land issues in RV.
Posted August 06, 2010 04:55 PM -
Submitted by ceasefire
I think I support odhiamboondoro on this. Its true we must bury the past so as to forge ahead but it will be reckless to forget that politicians used every opportunity to fan tribal sentiments that lead to the violence. Even as we forgive and forget it is important to remember that was a mistake that should never be repeated again.
Posted August 06, 2010 04:27 PM -
Submitted by yesuwangu
Ruto should stop imagining that the 2 million who voted no and those 45% who did note vote belong to NO that is self consolation.rather he should thank the close to 6million kenyans who came out to endorse the constitution including the R. Valley: 868,175. 40% of RV who voted yes. Rutos and Moi should accept change if 40% of their people wanted to join the rest of kenyans
Posted August 06, 2010 01:24 PM -
Submitted by jakimamo
@ahadiyetu. I am sorry but They burnt women and children in a church. I call that volatile.
Posted August 06, 2010 11:03 AM
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It is clear; Yes is the answer to the question about a new constitution. Thanks to all Kenyans for expressing your views, democratically. Let us now come together regardless of the direction in voting, and make this constitution useful to us and generations to come. Thanks IECK for a job well done. Ken-Rome