MPs Must Hasten Reform Bills

Friday, 25 March 2011 11:34 BY ISAAC WANYONYI

About seven months ago, the new constitution was promulgated with a lot of expectations by Kenyans. What now stand in the way of the realisation of the benefits of the new dispensation are a raft of new legislations. A total of 40 new laws need to be passed by parliament to allow for the implementation of the constitution. However MPs seem not to be doing a good job of it having passed only two laws — the Judicial Service and the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Bills passed.
Thus, Parliament still has a long way to go. Although we appreciate that the MPs sacrificed their time to work through Christmas holidays to quicken the pace of reforms, we e still expect them to do more. Kenyans are eager to reap the benefits of the new dawn and would like to see Parliament get down to serious work.
The new constitution is part of the reforms recommended by the Kofi Annan team of negotiators to end chaos witnessed following the disputed election results of the December 2007. It is therefore important that the legislators burn midnight oil to pass bills crucial for the implementation of the new constitution.
The Constitution says the next elections will be held in August next year. It is imperative that we have in place laws to ensure the polls will be held smoothly. There is an indication that the House is dedicated to ensuring the bills are passed.
Apart from legislations, there are other key issues which also need to be addressed before we go to polls. These include the newly-established constituencies and important appointments as per the constitution. New 80 constituencies must be set up. The most important institution that needs to be established is of course Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Besides, the National Land Commission, the Salaries Commission, and the National Police Service Commission need to be running by the time we go to the polls.
The establishment of these commissions take time to form and the 10th parliament has its work cut out. But for the MPs to get the credit for having brought us a new constitution, they must work tirelessly to see that these Bills are passed.
I urge the House to put to rest issues such as the Ocampo Six that are not necessary and focus on the passing of various bills as required by the law.
They legislators should take up the task with zeal since this is a duty they were sent to Parliament to do by the people. And if they fail to do so, it means they are incompetent.
More ominously, if the MPs fail to pass the necessary laws, the country may be plunged into a constitutional crisis. If that happens, it will be a strong indictment against the Members of Parliament.
Our law makers should go beyond personal and communal interests and address these crucial issues. They should avoid their selfish interests if they are to achieve these goals. The coalition partners should keep aside their in-house wrangles and do what they are constitutionally mandated to do.

The writer is a communications student at Daystar University.