CAMPAIGN MODE

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday made a resounding pitch for a new constitution and asked church leaders to climb down from their hardline positions on the controversial abortion debate. Mr Odinga also asked Parliament to pass the draft constitution as presented by Committee of Experts, saying their views were superior to those of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution (PSC).

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“Every person loves children but in case the life of the mother is in danger, doctors should be allowed to save the life of any of the two. We should respect doctors’ views. Religious leaders should not use the clause to scuttle constitutional review,” Mr Odinga said.

His calls came a week after President Kibaki assured Kenyans that Parliament would not pass a draft constitution that supports abortion. The Catholic Church, through John Cardinal Njue, has said the sanctity of life was a serious issue and the way it was phrased in the draft constitution could give room to abortion.

“We support a new constitution which is the aspiration of many Kenyans, but one that would not allow abortion,” said Cardinal Njue. Similarly, the National Council of Churches of Kenya has expressed anxiety over the provisions on abortion and the Kadhi’s courts.

NCCK general secretary Peter Karanja said: “We insist that the Constitution must protect all human life which begins at conception and ends at natural death. We are saddened by attempts by the Committee of Experts to go back on the PSC draft and deceptively re-introduce abortion.”

Mr Odinga spoke a day after Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo called for understanding from the churches on the abortion issue. The PM said PSC members who met in Naivasha were representing their party positions on the Constitution and should allow the draft now to sail through without amendments, saying the CoE has details and knows exactly what Kenyans want.

“In 2005 we told you to reject the Kilifi draft constitution because it had been mutilated but this time round we do not want you to reject it. Instead we are asking you to turn up in large numbers and vote ‘Yes’ for the draft constitution because it is good,” said Mr Odinga.

While the Church pushed to have PSC put the contentious clause in the Constitution, reproductive health experts have voiced their concern on the risks the clause exposes women to. The PSC draft expressly states that life begins at conception and that abortion was prohibited unless permitted in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner.

The draft also spelt out that abortion could be procured if the foetus posed danger to the mother’s life. However, doctors want wider and broader consultations before stating that life begins at conception. They argue that including that in the law would not stop women from getting abortions.

The Committee of Experts were uncomfortable with the PSC position. They argued that the provision that life starts at conception was against Article 13, which touches on the freedom of conscience, religion, belief and opinion, hence the protest by church leaders. Mr Odinga made his plea to church leaders when he addressed ODM supporters at Bumala, Matayos and Busia municipal stadium. On Sunday, he will head to Mumias and later preside over a harambee (fundraising) at the ACK Cathedral in Butere.

“We want Kenyans to get the new constitution as fast as possible because they have been fighting for it for the last 20 years and we are confident that we will get it,” said Mr Odinga. He said that even though ODM had pushed for a parliamentary system it was compelled to support the presidential system so that it is not accused of denying Kenyans a new constitution.

He asked the Church to be more tolerant of opposing views and to approach the debate in a manner that accommodates all interested groups. The PM said the draft constitution has a clause that ensures that there is respect for life and is protected in the Constitution.

Mr Odinga said amendments can be made to the Constitution after it has been passed. The PM spoke as he kicked off countrywide tours which his handlers insist are development-oriented but which are heavily tinted with political symbolism. The tours come in the wake of a tiff between the PM and President Kibaki over whether the former holds the power to suspend ministers or not.

Mr Odinga had a fortnight ago suspended Cabinet ministers William Ruto and Sam Ongeri but the move was overturned by President Kibaki within hours. The latest surprise in his choice of visits is one planned to Eastern province, the stronghold of his archrival, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka. The PM is expected to visit Ukambani and the larger Meru next weekend.

This weekend, Mr Odinga is on a tour of Western province to lay the foundation stone for institutions and inspect development projects, said his spokesperson Dennis Onyango. On Saturday, the PM was accompanied by ministers Henry Kosgey, Fred Gumo, Paul Otuoma, assistant ministers Sospeter Ojamong, Elizabeth Ongoro, Alfred Khangati and David Were, MPs Alfred Odhiambo, Dr Wilbur Ottichilo and Ababu Namwamba.