Great piece!

The only problem with changing the constitution, of course, is the pandora's box that you open. Consider who will be making the changes.

But you're absolutely right that the political engagement of the Kenyan people -- which was strong preceding the election as well -- is an amazing thing to watch, a testament to the depth and strength of Kenyan culture, and an ideal to strive for. I wish I could say the same for my fellow countryfolk. Unfortunately, the only "Democracy" lesson we seem to have exported in recent years is how to use an election to cover a coup.

Good article Mr. Were...Quick question unless the constitution has been ammended I thought a no confidence resolution requires a simple majority (51%) not a super majority (67%) of the National Assembly to pass? As per Charpter III, Part 3 Section 55(3) of the Constitution. "If the National Assembly passes a resolution which is supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of the Assembly (excluding the ex officio members), and of which not less than seven days’ notice has been given in accordance with the standing orders of the Assembly, declaring that it has no confidence in the Government of Kenya, and the President does not within three days of the passing of that resolution either resign from his office or dissolve Parliament, Parliament shall stand dissolved on the fourth day following the day on which that resolution was passed." Thanks Sam Chasia

Mr this article reflects the emotional nature some kenyans like u are analysing the political situation in this country. emotional because the comments including all your comments have nofoundation either in law of fact. your article is completely out of context and i will explain why,

1) You do not obey the law because someone told you to or because someone else obeyed the law or broke the law. you do it because it is the law. so to say that PNU is telling you to obey laws when they break them is naive. If you want people to do good, start it yourself.... not the other way

2) Yes ODM has majority in the house and as a Kenyan who supported PNU am happy. Why ? because the only difference in election promises given by ODM and PNU was two things, Devolution and allocation of government resources. All the other promises were identical, the difference being only how they were packaged and delivered. even for the two policy issues they differed on, either way Kenyans would benefit. rememeber its not how good a policy is but how well you execute it that counts. what am i trying to say here. ODM should use its numbers in the house to push its own agenda not to fight the government. thats the essence of having majority in the house.... ask the Americans. For some short sighted kenyans, they want ODM to use numerical strength to fight rather than build Kenya

3) You make a very unfair and unreasonabe comment about what happens minutes before swearing finished. You specifically single out Hon Kibaki leaving to go and sleep. Unlike you i sat through untill parliament adjourned. At the time of adjournment, there were about 4 MPS on the ODM side and more than 30 on the government side. The president had left but returned some minutes to the end and was the first to leave parliament. I find your comments very offending because they have no foundation in fact.

4) You say PNU refered to tradition. The speaker who you now "own" refered MPS back to 1958 when the oath of office commenced. He even refered them to 1992, 1997 and 2002 when that oath was submitted as it is. If your comments are professional and in good faith, would you have failed to hear that ?

5) You say there was civilisation in the house and members were calling each other honorables. Once again the justice and law loving kenyan did not hear Hon. Ababu humiliating the president by calling him Mr. kibaki more than 4 times.

6) There is a provision for one not to take the oath if he/she does not like its form. in that case, then you cannot be an MP. Hon Karua mentioned that on a point of order. If the issues raised by Hon.Orengo were as weighty as purpoted, wouldnt it have been wiser to decline the oath to demonstrate the "wishes of kenyans ". No it wouldnt have been a wise decision. Let me refresh your mind that in the last parliament towards the end, the only thing MPS agreed on without conditions was increasing their salary. That is exactly why they all took the oath.... to start earning their salaries. All the MPS in that house last night confirmed one thing to us, that thier stomachs come first before kenyans. That doesnt surprise u Mr.Were does it ?

I do not wish to have an exchange with my fellow Kenyan but we must separate facts from fictions, romours and emotions.As i said i supported PNU and if there was election rigging on either side, it is wrong. The post election violence in the country is affecting all of us.The way the electral commission conducted the election is affecting all of us. For me my concern is ethnic violence because election outcome and ethnic cleansing do not relate. I come from a constituency neighbouring Hon kibakis and my home has no electricity and we dont have tarmac passing our shopping center. So why should another kenya want to kill me because I come from there. I make my money from western Kenya because thats where i work. Of what benefit would it be to me if the goverment discriminates western Kenya ? none

These are the issues we should be wasting our energies and professional knowledge on. Not advancing false partisan views. I STAND TO BE CORRECTED BY YOU MR. WERE AND OTHERS WHO WILL READ MY REPLY.

Thank you

Julius Wanyaga