COE BROKE

The Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review (CoE) is grossly under financed.

Out of the Sh330million the committee requested from Treasury, it has only received Sh115million.

"Resources have not always been readily available even though the CoE is supposed to be financially independent. We have already submitted our proposal for extra funding from Government but the fund are yet to be released," said Aukot.

This means the CoE may not effectively conduct civic education unless Treasury releases the money on time.

The German Government today donated Sh35.45million to finance the printing and distribution of one million copies of the draft constitution as part of the civic education process.

Receiving the grant, CoE executive director, Dr Ekuru Aukot said his team expects five million copies from the Attorney General’s office and another five million funded by donors during a month-long civic education.

German Ambassador to Kenya, Margit Hellwig-Boette called on Treasury to release enough funds quickly if the civic education exercise is to succeed.

"The Sh35.4milion grant has been awarded by the Federal Republic of Germany to finance the printing and circulation of the Proposed Draft Constitution. Almost one million copies will be distributed through the daily newspapers and by the CoE," said Hellwig-Boette.

Although Germany shall remain neutral in the referendum campaign, the envoy expressed optimism that Kenya would finally get a new constitution after 20 years of waiting.

"The ‘NO’ campaign team seems to be following own vested interests and derailing process which is beneficial in the run up to 2012 General Elections. Civic education must be unbiased and objective. All voters should receive copy of the draft to own the constitution making process," she said.

"It is important that Kenya Government ensures CoE has enough money to run the civic education process," she appealed.

Aukot said apart from the Germany, the CoE expects funding from the United Nations Development Programme.

By Tuesday, the Attorney General’s Office had only managed to produce around 3,000 copies after restarting the process afresh after an error was cited in the earlier copies.

"The copies being produced from the Government Printer now are authentic and always pass through the AG’s office for approval before we distribute," said Aukot.

Civic education is the final bit in the constitutional making process, under the mandate of CoE, ahead of the referendum scheduled for August.

The committee intends to distribute at least 10million copies of the proposed draft in a bid to match the number of registered voters.

The Interim Independent Electoral Commission has already registered over 12milion voters.