27 March 2007
editorial
Nairobi — A most encouraging development on the political scene is that MPs on the Government side and the Opposition finally appear keen on negotiating a raft on minimum reforms before this year's elections. This was the message that came out of yesterday's meeting of Government of National Unity.
That the government side has realised that it would amount to racing against time to pretend that comprehensive constitutional reforms can be reached before elections is in itself a bold step.
It is a welcome gesture of endorsement of what the Opposition has been saying all along. This is a development that both sides need to work on to lay the ground for free and fair elections.
A committee of 22 MPs - 12 from the Government and 10 from opposition - to be headed by Kabete MP Paul Muite, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs, has been charged with the responsibility of spearheading this vital exercise.
It will be recalled that exactly 10 years ago, a similar initiative headed by former Saku MP Jillo Falana, which led to the historic Inter-Party Parliamentary Group pact, helped avert a political crisis that could have plunged the country into chaos.
Interestingly, some of the players at the time are the same ones sitting opposite each other at the table and taking pedantic positions on the 11 minimum reforms the Muite team will be debating.
It is high time the politicians from both sides agreed to forge the spirit of give-and-take. The biggest test is going to be on two sticking issues the Opposition is taking a hardline stand on.
The 50 per cent plus one vote requirement for a winning presidential candidate and that future presidents be forbidden from "poaching" MPs without consulting the parent party.
As the MPs seek a consensus on the way forward, we can only hope that all will put the interest of the country before any partisan considerations.
Also, both sides must realise that what Kenyans want in the long-run is a comprehensive review that will enhance governance and improve their lives.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
