We need your support, PM tells partners

By Augustine Oduor

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has asked the international community to support implementation of the new Constitution.

He said a successful implementation would be vital for consolidating democracy and national stability.

"We appeal to international community to offer technical, financial, and expertise to anchor the new Constitution," he said.

The PM said such support would help the Government address concerns of maintaining continuity of State services, developing new financial mechanisms, and building required human resource capacity.

Raila said the biggest task lay ahead and that the support of the international community and United Nations’ agencies was required.

He said the transition would herald major changes as the country embraces new laws.

"The UN agencies, together with others, could help Kenya develop a plan for broad-based engagement of all key stakeholders around the transition and implementation of the new laws," he said.

He said the international community could provide high-level advisory services to the Government, including Parliament, to ensure the country beats the implementation deadline.

Raila spoke on Tuesday during the farewell party for Mrs Anna Tibaijuka at the UN headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi.

Mrs Tibaijuka, the Under Secretary General and Executive Director for United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), retires after ten years at the helm of the agency.

"With the experience, I am going back home to put a final effort of my life by working at the grassroots level," she said.