Wednesday, June 9, 2010

BIDEN AND MARENDE

US Vice-President Joe Biden asked Parliament to step up vigilance and stressed the importance of separation of powers between the three arms of Government.

Biden is understood to have said the country needs a Parliament that cannot be compromised. An independent Parliament, he added, is crucial in facilitating reforms, promoting good governance and leading in the fight against corruption.

He spoke at Parliament Buildings where he had called on Speaker Kenneth Marende. Clerk of the National Assembly Patrick Gichohi and the Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission Walter Nyabati were present.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger accompanied Biden at the meeting, which was closed to the media.

After talks with the Speaker, the US VP held a two-and-a-quarter-hour meeting with MPs under the banner Parliamentary Caucus for Reforms at Parliament’s Library premises.

They discussed the reforms progress but the lawmakers are said to have raised regional security concerns, particularly neighbouring war-torn Somalia.

At the meeting with Marende, Biden urged judicial reforms, saying an independent Judiciary was pivotal to development.

New laws

The visiting VP reminded Parliament that its job is cut out should the Proposed Constitution be approved in the referendum. The draft contains a raft of new laws that MPs should enacted to see implementation of the new constitutional order.

In both meetings, Biden is understood to have emphasised the US Government wasn’t railroading Kenya but that Kenyans have to take charge of their destiny.

Biden said the US Government was ready to give economic and political support to Kenya but on condition that reforms are implemented.

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