Politics
Kenya PM: House will seal fate of draft law
Prime Minister Raila Odinga holds a copy during the launch of the draft Constitution in November 2009 as Committee of Experts chairman Nzamba Kitonga looks on. On Monday, the PM said Parliament will have a final say on whether to pass the draft constitution as it is or make amendments. Photo/HEZRON NJOROGE
Posted Monday, March 15 2010 at 18:00
Parliament will have a final say on whether to pass the draft constitution as it is or make amendments, Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on Monday.
Mr Odinga called on political leaders to stop fighting one another over the draft, adding that the only way to resolve the issue was through dialogue.
The PM said it was high time politicians ironed out their differences and agree on the draft to enable Kenyans have a new constitution.
“It is a must that Kenyans get a new constitution this year. We must therefore embrace dialogue so as to achieve this historic moment,” he added.
He called on MPs to stop infightings over the draft constitution, saying they would have time to debate on the matter on the floor of the house.
Mr Odinga noted that the legislators would decide whether to pass the draft as it is or whether to make amendments.
“I don’t see the reason why we should fight one another over the draft constitution. This is a matter which can be resolved amicably through dialogue,” the PM said.
“When the draft is brought before parliament we shall have the opportunity to either pass it as it is or make amendments,” he added.
Mr Odinga said even the Lancaster House constitution was amended 50 times while that of the US was amended 36 times.
The PM made the remarks at Mombasa Town Hall shortly after he met 42 local civic leaders led by mayor Ahmed Mohdhar.
He was accompanied by ODM organising secretary Hassan Ali Joho, assistant minister Ramadhan Kajembe, MPs Masoud Mwahima (Likoni) and Omar Zonga of Msambweni.
On the Matuga parliamentary by-election, the MP said ODM will fully support an aspiring candidate, Hassan Mwanyoha.
Mr Odinga assured Coast ODM MPs that he would rally behind them to ensure the party captures the seat.
“The ODM party will back Mr Mwanyoha during the Matuga by-election. We shall do what we can to ensure ODM wins the seat with a landslide,” he said.
Mr Joho said Coast MPs have already started to campaign vigorously for Mr Mwanyoha to help him win in the by-election.
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Submitted by kopuxkePosted March 16, 2010 10:15 AM
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Submitted by KenyanSamenya
MPS have no right to remove or ad anything on the draft. They can read, debate, and try to understand what Kenyans want. They seems not even to understand what the document says. I doubt even half of them have read it................!
Posted March 16, 2010 08:23 AM -
Submitted by werssylwer
No. Am not gonna buy this. We were in fear that PNU will drag this thing to parliament instead of going the consensus way. Now Raila jumps the gun saying only MPs should decide, effectively locking out any other voices while kenyans STILL feel very STRONGLY about certain clauses!! Raila, what is iT you want? Please save kenyans from another political charade. Lets ALL talk to each other and have a draft we can pass at the referendum. Even Obama is building consensus for the Health bill BEFORE congressmen vote for crying out loud !!!!!!
Posted March 16, 2010 06:38 AM -
Submitted by kahnjo
It's not sincere to criticize the MPs,they are the lawmakers and we are the ones who have given them the mandate to do what we cannot do.That doesn't mean they may not err but we have to give them room to dialogue and get the kind of law we badly need otherwise it will be chaos from the day this law is passed without amendments!
Posted March 16, 2010 04:36 AM -
Submitted by maugo1234
The parliament should have an up or down vote. This idea of a retreat is a form of corruption and an attempt to fraud the kenyan voter of an open debate in parliament. If those who want the amendments are sincere then why can't they debate in the open and convince their fellows to accept the amendments. And if the amendments fail to go through then we the voters are the final arbiters and the constitution will either be ratified or rejected- in that case we as voters wouldn't blame this or that camp.
Posted March 16, 2010 12:54 AM
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The new "Circus" in town. The Draft Constitution. These pple are just hilarious