NewConstitution this month

The committee of experts on Constitution review will release the draft constitution to the public before the end of this month.

The CoE Chairman Nzamba Kitonga said after the release of the draft constitution, Kenyans will have 30 days to debate on it.

"The public will have the opportunity to share their input on what they want to be added, removed or changed in the document," he added.

Kitonga urged the public to ignore published reports appearing in a section of the media purporting to be the draft constitution.

He said the published draft is totally different from the formal one they will release within this month.

"I am concerned that the press has published a document purporting to be our draft yet it does not have our signature, date, letter head, logo and the details are also at variance with the our document," he said.

He said there cannot be another draft unless signed and released to public by the Committee of Experts.

"I know Kenyans and the media are anxious to see the end of the long journey of constitution making. It is important that we have the constitution before the 2012 General Elections," Kitonga said.

Kitonga was speaking after meeting a section of MPs from the Parliamentary Caucus on reforms at their offices.

Among those who paid the courtesy call include the Attorney General Amos Wako, Garsen MP Danson Mungatana, Nominated MP Rachael Shebesh, Defence Assistant Minister Joseph Nkaisssery and Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi.

The MPs asked the committee to expedite the drafting of the constitution and release it to the public in order to allow them to build consensus on document.

Mungatana said the caucus, consisting of 40 MPs, will push for the enactment of the new constitution. "The members of the caucus are MPs from different political parties and we have made it our priority to pass the document in Parliament," he added.

Making of a constution, he noted is bigger than a political party adding that when the document is released, it should be discussed with sobriety it deserves.

The legislature urged the CoE to also release the draft constitution in Kiswahili and Braille for the blind.

Kitonga expressed the need to have Referendum Law to guide Kenyans on how to vote.