Monday, August 9, 2010

Raila extends olive branch, calls for unity

By PETER OPIYO and David Ochami

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has appealed to the 2.7 million Kenyans who voted against the new Constitution to forget their differences and unite in building a post-referendum Kenya.

Addressing a congregation at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi on Sunday, the PM likened Kenya’s quest for new laws to the biblical journey of Israelites to Canaan.
“We are now in Canaan. The bigger task of building Canaan now begins. This is the task we must confront as Kenyans, let’s not go back,” he said.

The leadership of the Anglican Church opposed the document, claiming it gave leeway for abortion on demand, but urged its flock to be guided by their conscience.

However, the PM said there was a bigger task ahead after the approval of the new Constitution, and asked those who voted against the document to join in rebuilding a new Kenya.

“We want to embrace those who were saying ‘No’ so that we can move together as a country,” said Raila.

Parliament, the main focus now

Parliament is expected to pass legislation to implement the new Constitution, a development the PM said should now be the focus of the country.
But even as he spoke, the Archbishop of Nairobi, John Cardinal Njue maintained his hardline stance on the document, saying the Catholic Church would push for amendment of clauses it regards as offensive.

The PM and President Kibaki, who said on Thursday any amendments would have to follow the law, also face resistance from MPs in Rift Valley, who delivered the largest block of ‘No’ votes in last week’s referendum.

PM Raila Odinga with former AG Charles Njonjo [PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA

On the other hand, civil society groups have also warned the two principals against any attempt to make amendments outside the framework provided by the law.

Yesterday the groups, under the umbrella of Katiba Sasa, said the two principals and VP Kalonzo Musyoka should respect the new laws on how amendments can be carried out, warning against any “backdoor” negotiations.

Raila said he was proud of Kenyans for showing the world that the country could conduct a fair and peaceful national vote after the dispute 2007 General Election led to violence and over 1,000 deaths. “I feel very proud to be a Kenyan because of what Kenyans have done recently,” he said in reference to the peaceful referendum.

Give and take

He said though there were differences during campaigns, such should not prevent Kenyans from working together, pointing out that his party ODM supported the document even though its preference of governance was not brought on board.
“We wanted a parliamentary system, but we didn’t get it. It must be a game of give and take,” he said.

ODM preferred a parliamentary system while PNU was for a presidential system of governance. The new Constitution adopted a pure presidential system with new checks on the Executive and Parliament.

The PM said even though the new Constitution may be seen by a cross-section of Kenyans to have some ‘defects’, it should not block a new beginning for the country and that no document made by man was perfect.

Drafted by man

“Anything made by man and woman can’t be perfect... a Constitution drafted by man will have some defects,” he pointed out.

Yesterday, a cross section of Rift Valley leaders asked President Kibaki to ensure the contentious issues in the new constitution are addressed.

Six MPs – Bejamin Langat (Ainamoi), Fred Kapondi (Mount Elgon), Joshua Kutuny (Cheranganyi), Lucas Kigen (Rongai),Mrs Peris Simam (Eldoret South),Sammy Mwaita, (Baringo Central)Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat and former MP Paul Sang — said the amendments should be carried out immediately.

They said that it was incumbent upon the President to provide leadership and ensure that the changes were effected in line with the promises he gave during the campaigns for adoption of the constitution.

“Our eyes are open, and the onus is on the President to provide the way for amendments of the contentious clauses in the constitutional document and re-unite the country,” Kutuny said.

Kutuny said the 2.7 million voters who rejected the constitutional document at the referendum were too many to be ignored by anyone.

Kapondi said: “The Government has a duty to address the contentious issues,” noting that over three million voters did not cast their votes, while another 2.7 million rejected it,”
“As the country moves to the next pace of implementing the constitutional document, all eyes are on the President if he will rise to the occasion and provide the environment for consultation and changes,” Salat said.

Mwaita said the will of the majority had prevailed in the ballot, but the voice of the minority should be factored in for the country to be united.

Keiyo South ODM chairman Micah Kigen, former Nakuru Kanu branch chairman Kimani Ngunjiri and Rongai ODM official Kenneth Kamuren commended residents of Rift Valley for maintaining peace during the referendum and urged leaders to come together and foster peaceful coexistence among the people.

“The campaign and voting period has come and gone and the country has a new constitutional document. It is the responsibility of leaders to unite the people,” Ngunjiri said.
But the unity message appeared lost on Nairobi Archbishop John Cardinal Njue, who declared that the Catholic Church would continue its crusade against the new constitution, warning that Kenyans would, in future regret why they overwhelmingly, adopted it at last weeks’ referendum.

Moral issues

He said the new laws will foster moral decadence and dehumanise society but failed to explain how the Catholics will renew and procure opposition to the charter following their devastating defeat on August 4.


Cardinal John Njue in Gatundu, on Sunday. PHOTO: TABITHA OTWORI/STANDARD]

Njue who also chairs the Kenya Episcopal Conference said before a congregation at the Ndundu Catholic Church in Gatundu South on Sunday that foreign interests misled Kenyan voters to legalise abortion and homosexuality.

“The day you will discover you have been used like tissue and discarded it will be too late,” the Primate said adding that future generations will not hold the church leaders responsible for the alleged imminent moral decadence following their stringent opposition to the new law.

Njue said the new charter legalises same sex marriage and “the murder of the unborn” through treachery and concluded these vices threaten culture and sanctity of life and family.
The cardinal said under the new dispensation “men will buy other men” in apparent reference to the Catholic’s claims that new bill of rights allows homosexuality and added that the arrangement “has been brought by foreigners.”

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