Ruto: Quest for new law losing steam

A Cabinet minister has expressed disappointment that the quest for a new constitution was losing momentum.

Agriculture minister William Ruto said he was afraid that the enthusiasm exhibited early this year over the stalled review process was fast waning.

Said the minister on Thursday: “I am afraid that this crusade is losing steam. It suddenly appears that those who were pushing for a certain type of a constitutional dispensation last year don’t see what is wrong with the current one.”

While responding to queries from members of the Law Society of Kenya who hosted him to a luncheon, the minister warned that maintaining the Constitution in its current form would be “disastrous for the country”.

He said it was only the new constitutional dispensation that would keep the country together.

Mr Ruto, who is also the Eldoret North MP, said the recent post-election violence should never be allowed to recur.

He said that a new constitution, which addresses how power is shared and how resources are distributed, ought to be put in place.

The minister called on Parliament to set aside some of their differences and pass the two key Bills that are expected to jump start the stalled constitutional review.

Ultimatums

The two Bills, which include the Constitutional of Kenya Review Bill 2008 and the Constitutional of Kenya (Amendment) Bill are currently before the House.

Meanwhile, the minister appealed to the Government to draw up a plan of saving the controversial Mau complex before carrying out evictions.

“You cannot save Mau Forest by giving ultimatums on when people should leave. Some of those living in the water catchment area legally bought land there and have valid deeds to prove this,” he said.