Monday, August 16, 2010

Grand plan for August 27

By Cyrus Ombati

Kenya's military will showcase a spectacular and elaborate show befitting the birth of a new Republic when the new Constitution is promulgated in 11 days.

Already, the disciplined forces are carrying out secret drills at Uhuru Park at night, because they involve display of weaponry and other military hardware rarely seen in public. They include planes, tanks, rocket launchers, supersonic fighter jets, and of course, the spellbinding foot-drill and awesome March Past Parade.

To honour the day, which military is treating as rebirth of a nation, the forces will also stage the celebratory ring of

canon shots complete with its boom and smoke, as well as fireworks.

The seriousness with which the country’s turning point is being taken is also discernible from the fact US ambassador Michael Ranneberger is expected to leave for America tomorrow to deliver a special invitation to the White House. Sources revealed the US Secretary of State Mrs Hilary Clinton called President Kibaki and PM Raila Odinga to congratulate them on the peaceful exercise and positive outcome. Mrs Clinton is said to have called the two on Thursday night. She reports directly to President Obama, who openly prodded Kenya to stick to the reform agenda.

Sources in Government revealed the symbolism of the day which has been declared a national holiday will be spiced up by the presence of foreign Presidents and other non-Kenyan dignitaries.

Military spokesman Bogita Ongeri described the day as a "major occurrence in Kenya’s history". He said on telephone: "All military personnel are involved in the preparation. Let all Kenyans come to witness the event."

The Panel of Eminent Persons led by former UN chief Dr Koffi Annan, former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel — who mediated Kenya’s peace deal in 2008 — are also expected to witness the transformation of the country through a new set of laws, power relations and governance structure.

Setting the stage for what Kibaki and Raila bill as Kenya’s great leap into the realm of history through a complete makeover, is a joint Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Party of National Unity (PNU) Parliamentary Group meeting. In the meeting, the two principals are expected to unite their MPs behind the implementation of the new constitution regardless of which side they voted for in the referendum.

new oath

During the ceremony it is expected Kibaki will lead the Cabinet and senior Government officials in taking a new oath of allegiance — in which they will swear to protect, preserve and uphold the new law.

MPs will follow suit the following day at Parliament Buildings, where the Speaker of National Assembly is expected to call for a special session. "The topic for discussion at the meeting to be held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre from 3pm will be the implementation of the new Constitution," said Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua in his advisory to newsrooms.

Sources said the President and Prime Minister would appeal to MPs to unite and give the country a smooth transition from the old to the new Constitution — especially through passage of the 49 Bills that will operationalise many aspects of the new law.

The MPs are already bickering over who should be included in the Committee on Implementation of the Constitution (CIOC). The powerful committee will take over from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reveiw chaired by Mohammed Abdikadir, which shepherded the review process.

ODM MPs allied to Raila have already called for the exclusion of Higher Education Minister William Ruto and 16 other MPs who supported the ‘No’ campaign.

But on Saturday, Ruto told 1,600 delegates who supported the ‘No’ campaign in the provinces they had no apologies to make. "We are not begging to be included in the process. It is our right, and we will therefore play our role," said Ruto in Ukambani yesterday. The Armed Forces began conducting night drills at Uhuru Park, in preparation for the biggest military display since the country attained its Independence. A spot check revealed that preparations had started in earnest, with military staging night rehearsals at Uhuru Park, the venue where the event will take place.

Military personnel have been staging night preparations aboard armored vehicles and other equipment. The night preparations are believed to be a strategy to surprise the public on August 27 when D-day comes.

Military choppers and jet fighters, expected to fly past the historic grounds to the mark celebrations. Four helicopters including those popularly known as YY have been overflying the city in the past week in what military officials reveal are part of the rehearsals.

Military personnel have also been arriving at Uhuru Park at 3am, and leaving at 6am. Insiders said they decided to stage the night rehearsals to avoid traffic jams that are usually experienced during daytime.

City Council of Nairobi employees were on Sunday busy painting and reconstructing the structures at the grounds. Planning for the event was being handled at the highest level in the Government and military.

There will be a flypast, marchpast, guard of honour and military displays, among other exercises. In addition it is expected the military, which is traditionally secretive, will display its troop and armoured personnel carriers, mobile hospitals and radar communicators.

Closed borders

The country’s main borders are expected to be closed for some hours on that day, because of the sensitivity and nature of the event that will be taking place.

Other sources intimated the National Defence Council, the highest decision making organ in the military, usually chaired by the Vice President, will meet this week to discuss the day’s programme among other issues.

Plans have been made for representatives from all provinces to take part in the function.

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