CONSENSUS AT LAST

Kenya Friday inched closer to new constitution when members of parliament finally agreed on the system of a devolved government.

The MPs settled for a two tire system, a central and regional governments.

The clamour for regional governments rooted for mostly by MPs from Coast, North Eastern and Rift Valley provinces carried the day.

But taking into account the cost of maintaining a devolved government, the MPs opted for a two tire system instead of the initial three tier system.

Besides the central government, 25 regional governments will be created with each region being represented by two senators, a man and a woman with Nairobi having two extra seats.

The minorities will have 10 special seats. The MPs also agreed to a total of 290 constituencies. However, it was still not clear which formula between population ratio and size of land would be used in creation of the additional constituencies.

Each constituency would have five wards with seven councillors in each ward.

The MPs were unanimous on the need to have a strong senate and proposed the restoration of regional governments with a 62 member Senate.

hardline positions

The partial agreement may unlock the deadlock on representation, devolution and transition chapters. Other proposals include the suspension of the implementation of the new constitution until after the 2012 general elections.

Both ODM and PNU have held hardline positions on various clauses of interest to them threatening the constitution review process.

The MPs have been holding talks at the Kenya Institute of Administration in a bid to unlock the stalemate on various issues but so far there has been little success.

The legislators have reportedly failed to agree on the chapters on devolution and representation.

The stalemate forced house Speaker Kenneth Marende Thursday to appoint a 23 member committee to look into the contentious issues after the law makers failed to reach a consensus.

The committee comprises seven members each from PNU, ODM and the parliamentary caucus on reforms. PSC Chairman Abdikadir Mohammed and his deputy Ababu Namwamba will sit in the committee as ex-officials.

political differences

Meanwhile Members of Parliament have been asked to put aside their political differences and their selfish ambitions and come up with a constitution that would be all Kenyans friendly.

National deputy chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Al Haji Abdullahi Kiptanui, said Friday that Kenyans had waited for far too long for a new constitution, a feat that should be achieved this time round.

"Don't allow your political differences and personal ambitions to meddle with the constitution making process," Kiptanui said at a press conference in Kericho town.

He called on President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to be in the forefront in the forging a united front in the constitution making process.

"If our MPs meddle with the constitution making, we will demand for the dissolution of parliament to enable MPs seek fresh mandate from wananchi," he said.