READ IT

President Mwai Kibaki has appealed to Kenyans to read the Proposed New Constitution carefully so as to make informed judgement.

Speaking on Thursday during the official publication of the proposed constitution at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, President Kibaki called on all stakeholders to be objective in their debate on the constitution.

Said President Kibaki: "Let us debate frankly and above all truthfully. We must avoid the temptation to engage in falsehoods and propaganda that will mislead the people."

President Kibaki also urged the media to help frame the debate on the contents of the document to enable Kenyans make independent and objective decisions.

Noting that the end of the civic education period of thirty days will kick off the process that will culminate in the holding of a national referendum, the President urged all Kenyans to view the referendum with the seriousness it deserves so that the country can have a constitution that will stand the test of time and adequately serve present and future generations.

He said it was imperative that Kenyans seize the opportunity offered through the referendum and vote on the new contract between the people and their government.

The President observed that the publication of the proposed constitution means that Kenyans are now finally at the threshold of ushering in a new constitutional order for the country having passed through most stages of the constitution making process.

"As Kenyans appreciate, the constitution is the most important document in any country. As the ultimate depository of social will, the constitution will directly affect our lives as individuals and as a nation," President Kibaki said.

The President pointed out that it is the constitution that will determine the character of the country's social, economic and political interaction, adding that it will also entrench the rule of law and provide the basis of a united and prosperous working nation.

The president underscored the importance of each Kenyan having a say in the making of the constitution as it also affects the lives of the country's future generations.

To help Kenyans understand the contents of the constitution, President Kibaki said the Government would avail at least 5 million copies of the draft to wananchi.

"The proposed constitution will also be translated into Kiswahili and Braille to ensure that the document is available to a wide cross-section of our society," President Kibaki said.

He thanked the Kenyan people who have so far registered as voters, saying this will enable them participate in the referendum.

"It is your constitutional right as well as civic duty to vote and participate in shaping the constitutional order of our country," the Head of State said.

Saying he was fully aware that a few sections of the proposed constitution have not been well received by some members of the society, the President re-assured them that the fate of most living constitutions is that they are subject to change and the Government is willing to support any future amendments that are meant to enrich the document.

"When you read the document you will be less prone to misinformation. Let us all remember that constitution making is about the people of our country," President Kibaki said.

He also urged Kenyans to remain tolerant of one another's views, pointing out that at the end of the day they were all Kenyans and must remain focussed on the work ahead.

The Head of State noted that after twenty years of searching for a new constitution, it was imperative that the exercise is concluded now, adding that the conclusion of the exercise will enable Kenyans to focus their energies on the urgent work of national development.

President Kibaki thanked the Kenyan people for having the patience to engage in one of the most intense public discourses in the nation's history.

He urged Kenyans to read the document because it contains the factual information which would dispel propaganda and unnecessary fears among wananchi.

He also commended the Parliamentary Select Committee on the constitution chaired by Mohammed Abdikadir, the Committee of Experts chaired by Nzamba Kitonga for their valuable input and the drafters at the Attorney General's Office for their work on the final document.

On his part Prime Minister Raila Odinga asserted that the country was at a defining moment and that the current generation of Kenyans was privileged to participate in a historic event that would shape the destiny of the nation for many years to come.

The Prime Minister asserted that the struggle to make Kenya a better place has been tough and the journey towards the attainment of a new constitution has been backbreaking and urged Kenyans to ensure the current efforts amount to a successful enactment of a new constitution.

Odinga affirmed that the proposed constitution should not be allowed to polarize or divide Kenyans but stated that every citizen had a right to freedom of speech and holding his/her opinion without intimidation.

Addressing the same forum, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka declared that the country had made a tremendous recovery after the effects of the 2007 post election violence adding that the proposed constitution would lay a firm foundation for comprehensive reforms that would midwife a model nation.

He said that the nation must avoid the path of dividing Kenyans but instead to maintain peace and nationhood and to resolve to transform the nation in order to make it one of the best among the community of the nations.

Others who addressed the forum included Speaker of the National Assembly, Kenneth Marende and Attorney General Amos Wako.

In attendance were cabinet ministers, assistant ministers, legislators, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura, members of the diplomatic corps, Chairman Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution Review, Abdikadir Mohamed, Chairman Committee of Experts on Constitution Review, Nzamba Kitonga, Chairman Interim Independent Electoral Commission Isaack Hassan, Chairman Interim Independent Boundaries Commission Andrew Ligale and other senior government officials