BIDEN SAYS YES

Dr Kofi Annan who brokered Kenya’s power sharing deal, whose pillar was delivery of a new constitution, is predicting 66 per cent of Kenyans will vote for the Proposed Constitution.

Annan’s optimistic verdict came as unconfirmed reports filtered that US President Barack Obama is sending his Vice President to Kenya as part of his pressure on the country to stick to the reform agenda and deliver a new constitution.

Mr Joe Biden, sources told The Standard, will be in Kenya for three days next month before leaving for South Africa to witness the opening of first World Cup on African soil.

Africa’s Eminent Persons group gave their verdict, yet another sign they are still on track of each of Kenya’s steps towards lasting peace, as Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) declared a campaign period and published referendum rules to be adhered to by the ‘Reds’ and ‘Greens‘.

According to a progress survey released on Tuesday by Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Monitoring Project on the status of the implementation of Agenda One to Four items in January and February, 60 per cent of Kenyans believe Kenya will attain a new constitution this year.

"A total of 66 per cent of Kenyans say they would vote for the Proposed Constitution; 10 per cent would reject it, while 24 per cent are unsure,’’ Annan’s team said it its report.


It took days for President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to meet and shake hands after presidential election result of the 2007 General Election was disputed. When they did, violence abated. [PHOTO: FILE / STANDARD]

Mr Biden will be the highest-ranking member of Obama’s administration to come to Kenya, following in the footsteps of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and her two subordinates; Mr Johnnie Carson and Dr Jendayi Frazer. He is also expected to bear Obama’s incessant message of ‘reforms now’ like in April when the Draft sailed through Parliament without alteration.

No comment

Asked about Biden’s trip, America’s embassy in Kenya said it had not been informed, there is no official announcement yet and therefore would not comment.

"The White House controls information on visits by the President and Vice President. We do not know and I cannot comment. We are prohibited from releasing information about them because of security reasons," said the embassy’s Public Affairs Officer Mr John Haynes.

Annan’s team advised Kenyans to be vigilant on the review process "to ensure it remains on track and safe from sectarian threats that are coalescing around perceived unresolved issues."

According to their report, only 33 per cent of Kenyans feel the Grand Coalition government was unlikely to deliver the document while seven per cent do not know.

They also found out 67 per cent of Kenyans prefer a purely presidential system — which is in the Proposed Constitution — while 29 per cent wanted a parliamentary system with both a president and prime minister sharing power.

In their opinion, carried out before IIEC announced the referendum date, 80 per cent of Kenyans would turn out to vote during the referendum if it were to be held this year, while only 16 per cent said they would not vote, and four per cent remained undecided. The referendum will be held on August 4.

The team also recommended that the electronic voter registration and electronic voting system be prioritised. As part of the walk to digital voting age, only 18 constituencies are using the electronic voter register, which is the launch pad for an electronic voting system. "The credibility of the outcome of the referendum will depend on the number of registered voters and the integrity of the voting process," adds the report.

The team was happy the Proposed Constitution had passed some of the most important hurdles already covered by the organs of review.

"The Proposed Constitution has the potential to extensively change the framework of governance and politics in Kenya," the Eminent Persons said.

The European Union (EU) also assured the Government of support in its efforts to implement institutional reforms. Speaking when she met President Kibaki at Harambee House yesterday, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton encouraged the Government to remain steadfast on the reform agenda.

Baroness Ashton, who is also the Vice-President of the European Commission, welcomed the progress Kenya has made towards achieving a new constitution. The Head of EU Delegation in Kenya Eric Van Der Linden accompanied the baroness.

Wednesday’s interventions came a day after American Ambassador Michael Ranneberger told Kenyans Obama was closely following the constitution review and was eager to see an end to impunity.

Distracted attention

Annan’s team warned that debate on unresolved issues had distracted attention from genuine demands for a new constitution that would reform the State and its institutions.

"The country is not debating how this constitutional moment should lead to comprehensive and radical reform of the State, its institutions and the society itself and enable the country prevent reoccurrence of violent conflict," they lamented.

"It is an irony that sections of the Christian Church appear poised to abandon their traditional position as some of the strongest champions for a new constitution because of what they consider as contentious issues in the draft constitution," added the report. The team said the opportunity to have a new constitution was a rare one in any society, Kenya being no exception, and asked Kenyans not to waste the opportunity. "It is important that strategies be devised to address these challenges and refocus public debate towards the greater national interest in constitutional reform," the group recommended.

They also told those clamouring for amendments that only a new constitution can open opportunities for radical reforms.

The survey also revealed Kenyans feel that power in the coalition government was not being shared equally with 57 per cent of them holding that view while 33 per cent think power was being shared equally.

They also concluded majority of Kenyans think the situation in the country has grown from bad to worse in the last six months with 59 per cent feeling it is worse while 21 per cent think it is better compared to 19 per cent who feel there is no change.

Majority of Kenyans or 71 per cent of those polled feel PNU has more power than its coalition partner, ODM, in Government.

The report whose survey was carried out between January and March states that media continues to win public confidence as 83 per cent of Kenyans are satisfied with its performance followed by religious leaders at 77 per cent, then NGOs with 72 per cent and Dr Kofi Annan’s team at 71 per cent. The Attorney General’s office came last with 25 per cent of Kenyans satisfied while 61 per cent were dissatisfied with its work.

Seventy per cent of Kenyans, they concluded, feel that despite the problems the coalition is going through, it should be allowed to continue until the 2012 General Elections are held while only 28 per cent want snap elections.

According to the report, 55 per cent of Kenyans fear violence is likely to occur if elections were held today while 38 per cent feel it was unlikely. They concluded 60 per cent of Kenyans have faith in IIEC while and 56 per cent feel it will be able to conduct the referendum freely and fairly.