Politics a threat to Constitution roadmap

BY WAMBUI NDONGA

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null 1/1 NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 20 - Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo on Monday said that the 2012 succession politics threaten the implementation of the new Constitution. Speaking during the first Annual National Constitutional Implementation Conference in Nairobi, Mr Kilonzo argued that unhealthy political rivalries were likely to come into play in 2012 hampering the reform agenda. He noted that there was urgent need for politicians to focus their energies on fast tracking reforms adding that there was also need to increase the capacities of the implementation organs. "How do we deal with the real threat of the 2012 politics? How do we ensure that the dynamics of the coalition politics do not derail the implementation process?" he posed. "How do we guard against the personal interests of certain officer holders whose offices must be targeted for reform?" he asked. Mr Kilonzo added that there was need to manage Kenyans' expectations over the implementation of the Constitution and correct any lingering misconceptions. He argued that these perceptions also risked derailing the implementation of the Constitution. "How do we manage the unrealistic expectations of the people because there are a lot of people who have very high and unachievable expectations," he said. Political scientist and analyst Prof Karuti Kanyinga also raised a red flag over next year's elections saying politicians should not lose sight of the constitutional implementation process. He argued that there was need to stabilise the country's political environment as it remained volatile. He also challenged the coalition government to remain united in ensuring that key laws were implemented. "There is no clear leadership of implementation of this Constitution and there is absence of clear ownership simply because of the internal contradictions in the coalition itself. Parliament itself is not even coherent," he quipped. Prof Kanyinga added that economic challenges also had to be addressed in the implementation process. The chairman of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Charles Nyachae also called on Kenyans to remain vigilant in the entire implementation process. Mr Kilonzo further lauded the CIC for finalising the Political Parties Bill noting that it was already before the Cabinet. "I've been assured by the Chairman, Mr Nyachae, that I will get more laws any time now so that I can present them to the Cabinet sub-committee meeting tomorrow," he said. He however noted that the CIC was still waiting for the report on devolution so that it could conclude the Elections Bill. The three-day conference will be officially opened by President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday. It seeks to look at the gains made so far in the Constitutional implementation process and also analyse underlying challenges. The former chairman of the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission Prof Yash Pal Ghai commended the achievements that had so far been accomplished in the Judiciary. He however maintained his stance against the appointment of Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko saying it was unconstitutional. "It was clear to me that there were massive violations of the Constitution by both the panel and by Parliament," he said. Follow the author at https://twitter.com/wambuindonga

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