Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Parliament united towards smooth implementation of new constitution

BY BEAUTTAH OMANGA

Parliament will exhibit a unity of purpose in passing all the necessary legislations towards smooth implementation of the new constitution.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka who is also leader of Government business has said his team would carry out its mandate by prioritising implementation Bills on the floor of the house as from next week.

" I have already chaired the first HBC and I can assure Kenyans that the mood there is excellent as far as coordination of business in the House is concerned. It is my hope that the entire house will be united and pass all the bills related to the new constitution with ease," said Kalonzo.



President Mwai Kibaki (standing) addresses Parliament at a past session. Vice President, Kalonzo Musyoka says the house will speed up passing of bills towards implementation of new constitution.

He said MPs irrespective of which side they identified with during the referendum campaigns will be united behind the new constitution.

" We have anew constitution which will serve all of us regardless of which side we were at the referendum. That is past us now and what is most important to all Kenyans where ever they are is a unity of purpose in making sure we all reap the fruits of the new supreme law" said the VP.

Dinner party

Kalonzo was speaking on Tuesday evening during a dinner party he organised for about 100 journalists at a Nairobi hotel. He said the party was an appreciation of the media’s role in the country’s second liberation.

He hailed the media for being part of real change in the country and for exhibiting maturity in handling the referendum campaigns.

" The media has played a key role in informing and educating Kenyans on the need for a second republic through anew constitution. We are proud of our media and look forward for sustained partnership in taking the country into a new look Kenya," said the VP.

He challenged the media to continue moderating the implementation of the new constitution ‘ which has revived the huge hopes Kenyans had in their leadership when Narc took power in 2003".

He also heaped praise on coalition government for remaining united despite comprising of leaders who were bitter rivals in the last General Elections.

"We should be proud of ourselves as a country that the coalition government being the first in Africa has remained united to a point of giving the country a new constitution," said the VP.

How did VP become HBC leader

The VP took control of the HBC from Speaker Kenneth Marende who appointed himself on acting capacity following standoff between Kalonzo and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

President Kibaki had then written to the speaker informing him of the appointment of Kalonzo as LHBC but the PM using his party’s numerical strength opposed the move as he appointed himself leading to a stalemate.

But after consultations geared at ensuring smooth house business in the face of strict timeline in the new constitution’s implementation, the President reappointed Kalonzo to the position with ODM saying they were consulted.

No comments:

Post a Comment