Mediated talks finally end

The mediated talks formally wound up on Wednesday with calls to Parliament to speed up the adoption of two Bills aimed at jump-starting the stalled constitutional review process.

The negotiators at the same time agreed to form a team to monitor the implementation of the agreements reached during the six-month period.

The team, whose members were not revealed, are to be based at the African Union offices in Nairobi.

They are expected to make periodic reports on progress made and submit them to President Kibaki and the Panel of Eminent African Personalities led by former UN chief, Kofi Annan.

Gather dust

The chairperson of the talks, Prof Oluyemi Adeniji said this will ensure that reports do not gather dust like in the past.

“We want to ensure that the agreements, however nice they may be, are implemented in full to the satisfaction of Kenyans,” he said.

Prof Adeniji revealed that the countdown to a new constitution would only begin when the two key Bills aimed at jump-starting the stalled review process were adopted by Parliament.

The Bills include the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2008 which proposes to amend the constitution to insert a new section, 47A, to provide for the replacement of the current constitution.

The Constitution of Kenya Review Bill 2008 on the other hand, proposes the road map to a desirable constitution.

“Parliament should show good faith by adopting the Bills before they adjourn,” said Prof Adeniji. “This will ensure that by this time next year, Kenyans will have the document that has eluded them for years.”

His sentiments were echoed by Nairobi Metropolitan minister Mutula Kilonzo who assured Kenyans that the dream will be achieved in the agreed time, adding that there was consensus among Government officials on the issue.

Mr Kilonzo allayed fears that the enactment of a new constitution will spell doom to the Grand Coalition Government. “This will not happen. I can assure you that by 2012, the country will conduct General Eelection under a new constitution.”

Prof Adeniji defended the panel of mediators against truancy accusations. “All the issues at hand were subject to continuous discussions even if we did not meet as a group,” he said.

Wednesday's meeting, the last one, had been called to harmonise all the agreements reached by the mediation team to avoid future disputes.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet ministers Mutula Kilonzo, Prof Sam Ongeri, Dr Sally Kosgey, Mr James Orengo, Mr Moses Wetangula and Ms Martha Karua attended.

The talks, then under the chair of Mr Annan, began on February 1, with the negotiators agreeing on a detailed four-item agenda whose first three items were to be resolved in two weeks. The fourth agenda item would be tackled over 12 months.

The talks culminated in the signing of the power-sharing agreement paving way for the formation of the Grand Coalition Government with ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga being appointed prime minister.

And in March 14, the mediation team signed four crucial agreements including the commitment to a comprehensive review of the constitution within a year.