New constitution here

The eagerly awaited harmonised draft Constitution will now be published on Tuesday next week.

The Director of the Committee of Experts (CoE) Ekuru Aukot confirmed to Capital News that the draft would be made public at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre on November 17 at 10am.

After it is made public, Kenyans will be given 30 days to scrutinise the draft and suggest amendments.

Dr Aukot said they are bound by the review law that gives a 30-day period despite pleas to extend it.

He said the draft would be published in newspapers, and copies distributed through civil society interest groups and at provincial administration offices.

The development comes as the Cabinet embarks on a three-day national leaders retreat which on the surface is supposed to enhance unity and cohesion in the coalition government.

The forum is also expected to debate the harmonised draft constitution.

A number of foreign speakers have been invited to present papers at the retreat, which is also meant to devise a way forward on how best the coalition government can deliver its mandate and improve its economic, social and political performance.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are expected to make their opening statements on Saturday morning.

According to the constitution framework calendar, the draft law had been expected before the end of the week. The team held a bonding session two weeks ago in which they had committed to finalise the draft in readiness for release.

This week, committee chairman Nzamba Kitonga had called for patience from Kenyans saying "there will be no secrecy about the law."

"I urge the press to refrain from publishing documents that have not been fully agreed on and which are possibly working drafts which were used in the past," the chairman pleaded in response to reports in the press.

Mr Kitonga urged Parliament to move with haste in the formulation of a referendum law to facilitate a vote on the draft constitution. He asked the legislators to ensure that there is a smooth flow of the process at its critical stage.