Kalonzo happy with progress of Naivasha talks

Kenya is on the verge of getting a new constitution following the progress made by the Parliamentary Select Committee in Naivasha, according to Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Mr Musyoka, who spoke on Friday after attending a burial for a Nanyuki businessman alongside President Kibaki, said it was encouraging that the PSC had recorded success on some of the issues that had previously threatened the enactment of a new law.

“It is encouraging to note the success already recorded by the PSC in Naivasha. It is now obvious we are on the threshold of a new constitution. From my experience with the Sudan peace talks, it is always possible to agree in Naivasha,” Mr Musyoka said.

He asked Kenyans to give the PSC a chance to iron out the key issues, saying those who might not be happy with its work will have an opportunity to air their views as the document will go back to the Committee of Experts and Parliament for debate.

The PSC is reported to have agreed on a powerful presidency, whose authority will be checked by Parliament, the Judiciary and regional governments.

Breakthrough

The agreement has been described as a significant turning point in the country’s previous attempts to write a new constitution in the last two decades. No formal announcement has been made on the breakthrough since the work of the committee is guided by parliamentary rules that bar members from revealing the deliberations.

On the clause stipulating when life starts, the VP assured the churches opposed to the agreement by the PSC that it starts at birth that they will have an opportunity to forward their grievances once the team finalises its work.

All the issues in the draft, he said, were subject to discussion and that it was possible to reach consensus on any of them. The stand by the church was understandable since no one in Kenya would want to give room for legalisation of abortion, which is prohibited under the current law, he added.