NCCK for minimum reforms

The National Council of Churches of Kenya-NCCK- is proposing minimum constitutional amendments to act as a fall back measure should the ongoing constitutional process hit a snag.

According to the council, the proposals contained in a draft constitutional amendment bill could stabilize the country even if efforts to find a new constitution fail to materialize.

Basing its argument on the premise that previous attempts have failed to bring forth a new constitution, NCCK is already casting doubts on ongoing efforts to actualize the dream.

For this reason the organization is now pushing for constitutional amendments in the current laws to keep the country stable if the efforts fail to deliver a new constitution.

To set pace for this agenda, the NCCK has unveiled a draft constitutional Amendment Bill (2009) that it hopes will win parliament's approval.

Secretary General Canon Peter Karanja on Wednesday said the Council was ‘already in consultations' with a number of Members of Parliament to sponsor and support the Bill in the House.

The draft bill proposes that the presidential election date be set on the 1st Tuesday of December at the end of the fifth year of each parliamentary term.

The President to have garner 25% votes in 5 provinces, that all presidential appointments receives parliamentary approval, the AG and director of prosecution offices be separated while awarding them security of tenure, constitution to pre-define parliament's calendar and that wide-ranging reforms in the judiciary be carried out.

The Secretary General however maintained that the Council was in full support for the realisation of a new Constitution despite their minimum reforms calls.

The Council mid last month called for the minimum reforms at the height of disagreements over the process of preparing a new Constitution, brewing a storm in the country.

Their proposals come as the committee of experts on constitutional review is preparing to release a harmonized draft constitution by end month.