|
A summary report on the Kalenjin professionals’ public debate on the proposed constitution on 10/06/2010 at the Sarova Panafric Hotel
The debate on the proposed constitution of Kenya is taking centre stage with many not understanding the contents of the document. The recently released opinion polls have shown that the Rift Valley province is leading in low awareness levels on the content of the proposed constitution. This is further reinforced by numerous calls in the Chamgei and Kass FM where a majority of the callers are complaining of the unavailability of copies of the proposed constitution in the rural areas. This then calls for urgent intervention to distribute copies of the proposed constitutions and carry out comprehensive civic education program to enable our communities to vote based on the content of the document.
Rift Valley Development Trust (RIVDET) has been involved in the push for implementation of agenda 4 of the Serena mediation talks. It found it necessary to educate the general public on the content of the draft so that communities in the Rift Valley are able to vote in the coming referendum based on knowledge of the content of the proposed constitution. The organisation has organized several forums across the Rift Valley aimed at raising awareness on the proposed constitution. The first activity was the professionals’ forum in Nairobi. The other forums in the province will be preceded by distribution of at least 450,000 copies of the proposed constitution. The forums will include three professionals’ forums in Nakuru, Eldoret and Kericho, Town hall meetings in major towns in the region including several youth forums in the constituencies.
The Nairobi professionals meeting which attracted more than 500 people from senior cooperate officers, leaders and those from various fields dwelt mainly on overview of the constitution with keen interest on areas identified as contentious. The meeting acknowledged the dynamism of society that has forced nations to think of what do and keep up with the challenges.
The Mediation talks in Serena underscored the dire need to implement long term reforms including judicial reforms, police reforms and institutional reforms.
The constitution being the foundation of all reforms, the meeting stressed the need to critically analyze the document and effectively participate in the constitutional review process. The panellists agreed that apart from the political interpretation of the document, there was need to have a social-economic interpretation where professionals come handy.
Kenya has 42 tribes and the needs of all communities should be factored in. It was also underscored that it is virtually impossible to meet the demands of all the 42 tribes but what is important is that the constitution must take care of the crucial issues affecting each community. Appreciating the autonomy of Kenya as a nation, the professionals sought to understand the draft from the point of generally optimizing the interests and gains to the citizens while not ignoring the community’s non negotiable.
RIVDET invited a panel of six leading lawyers from the community namely Mr. Julius Kemboi, Mr. Onesimus Kipchumba and Dr. Moses Kurgat who were inclined to the YES and Mr. Katwa Kigen, Dr. Donald Kipkorir and Mrs. Grace Kiptui who were to be inclined to the NO side. Though all the lawyers had confirmed attendance, Donald and Mrs. Kiptui did not turn up for the debate. Dr. Julius Kipng’etich of KWS was also part of the panel and his focus was on public finance, devolution and the governance structure in the proposed constitution. The moderator of the debate was Mr. Tirop Kosgei who is the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Housing
The key areas of contentions discussed in the meeting included but not limited to the following:
* Devolution of powers and resources in the two tier government proposed in the draft.
* The land provisions in the document.
* The establishment of the National Land Commissions and its powers and functions.
* Imposition of taxes on property as envisaged in the proposed constitution.
* The general protection of property ownership.
* The restructuring of Provincial Administration.
* Limitations of the bill of rights.
* The provisions on Citizenship.
* The judiciary especially the Kadhi’s courts provisions.
* The right to life and the abortion clause.
* Errors in the proposed constitution and their effects.
* The amendment provisions in the proposed constitution.
* The cost of governance in the proposed constitution among other provisions in the document.
After extensive interactive discussion, the meeting made the following resolutions:
* RIVDET with the help of the various professional bodies to distribute copies of the document to our people in the grassroots.
* Tasked RIVDET to organize more such forums in Nairobi and in all the towns in the Rift Valley.
* The professionals being the opinion leaders in society should lead the way in reading and correctly interpreting the document for the people back at home.
* To have the panellists participate on talk shows in the media especially in our vernacular FM radio stations so as to reach as many of our people as possible.
* Organise a forum that brings together the political leaders from both sides together with the professionals to discuss the document.
* Have balanced debate by both the YES and NO proponents of the proposed constitution.
* Have the panellists pay a courtesy call to the former president of the country His Excellency Daniel Moi who is one of the key opinion leaders in society.
* Preach to our community to exercise tolerance and accommodate each other’s views on the proposed constitution.
* Clear the misconceptions already on the ground by providing the factual information.
|
Listen to Kass FM Live 
Information 
Expedite another Debate to enable the voters of RV go to the ballot box come Aug 4th knowing what they want.Whichever way RV vote,even if they are alone it is their constitutional right.Other communities have done it in the past and they will still do it.