PM seeks donor support for Kenya referendum

Kenya has asked its Western and European donors to support the efforts to get a new constitution by helping finance the referendum scheduled to be held in March next year.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga said at the first of two annual meetings with members of the diplomatic corps that the donor states should also use their influence, particularly on the poor and the vulnerable, to support the push for a new constitution.

The draft was published two weeks ago and is currently being debated for the scheduled 30 days before it is presented for debate in Parliament.
Kenyans will choose to accept or reject the final draft at a referendum slated for March but which Mr Odinga said would be held in April.

“Resources are needed for the referendum and we are looking forward to support for the process,” said the PM.

He did not elaborate the amount government would be asking for but Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo told Parliament last week Sh404.66 million has been spent on the process against a budget of Sh1.48 billion.

Mr Kilonzo said the amount does not include the money needed for the referendum.

The meeting held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and dubbed the Development Partnership Forum is meant to review the relationships between the government and donor countries and their impact on Kenyans.

Mr Odinga also asked the diplomats and heads of development agencies to give accurate and realistic views on Kenya and to “ensure statements to the press or in public fora are based on facts and reality.”

World Bank country director Johannes Zut said the meetings will now be held regularly, with the timing being to have an impact on the budget-making process to have the donors give their input.

A brief prepared for the meeting, which will next be held in May 2010, listed the completion of the constitution-making process as “the fundamental challenge for Kenya over the next six to 12 months.”

The meeting was also set to discuss the draft, its overall approach and the importance attached to adhering to the set deadlines, in the first session chaired by the PM.

A note on the situation of governance in the country highlights the constitutional reforms, conflict, impunity and electoral reforms as the government’s main challenges.

The note says the constitutional reform would enhance Kenya’s stability and development and reduce the chances that violence would occur after elections in the future.

It however notes that the potential for violence still exists due to the absence of a disarmament programme and that militia groups and vigilante groups that were active more than two years ago are yet to be disbanded.

“The underlying motivations and means towards conflict and violence are intact, giving rise to fears about a resurgence in violence,” reads the note.

It says the culture of impunity is still strong, and the fact that victims of the post-election violence are yet to get justice while human rights defenders and witnesses are being threatened has not helped.

The brief cited corruption as one of the main areas in which Kenya is dragging its feet, with recent scandals at the Agriculture and Education ministries being used as examples.

“Corruption is still a major problem with little confidence that action is being taken that would deter high-level corruption. Those who benefit from this culture are unlikely to make the reform process work for this nation,” reads the note prepared by the meeting’s organisers.