Nairobi — More than 40 MPs across the political divide have come together to push for reforms. The MPs from PNU, ODM and other small parties, who are advocating change, have formed the Parliamentary Caucus for Reforms to whip their colleagues in Parliament to give the country a new constitution.

The constitution review has been a bumpy journey ever since retired President Moi declared at the midnight of December 31, 1994, that 1995 would be the year the independence constitution would be overhauled.

Since then efforts to get the constitution overhauled have met stiff opposition. It requires a two-thirds majority of the Members of Parliament to change the constitution. This means that out of the 210 MPs, at least 145 MPs have to vote to make constitutional changes.

Now, members of the Parliamentary Caucus for Reforms (PCR) say they aim to provide a forum for legislators to discuss issues, particularly on constitution reforms. "We will never have a perfect constitution. But we must start somewhere," said Garsen MP Danson Mungatana, who is the convenor of the caucus.

Mr Mungatana said they had been holding "underground meetings" since August to mobilise their colleagues to support reforms and that he and Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara discussed reforms with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, as well as former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan during the envoys' separate visits in the country.

On Friday, Mr Mungatana's committee was to meet with House Speaker Kenneth Marende and this week, it is expected to meet Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo as well as the chairman of the Committee of Experts on Constitution Review Nzamba Kitonga. The aim of the meetings is to seek the release of the draft in good time so that MPs have enough time to debate it in the House.

Political will

"We want to ensure that if there are sections to be amended, that should be done quickly to avoid any hurdles. The message is one: this time round, there is political will. We are starting from the point that this country must win this time," said Mr Mungatana, who is also the Narc Kenya secretary-general. He appealed to all MPs to join the group whose secretary is Prof Margaret Kamar.

The steering committee members are Boni Khalwale (New Ford Kenya), Mwangi Kiunjuri, Jeremiah Kioni and David Ngugi (PNU), Fred Outa, Olago Aluoch and Aden Duale (ODM), Dr Simiyu Eseli (Ford Kenya), Charles Kilonzo (ODM-Kenya) and Mr Imanyara (Chama Cha Uma).

Dr Khalwale said the caucus is bipartisan and only aims at helping the country get a new constitution. "We have reached a defining moment in the history of this country, and a new constitution is being accepted. We fear the usual tribal chiefs will hijack and reject it, or have sections amended to represent their interests," he said.

Mr Kioni, who is the Ndaragua MP, emphasised the need for consensus adding that their caucus would lobby MPs and wananchi (citizens) to strike a balance on the contentious issues. "This will ensure we are not driven by emotions or party politics. We need to be moderate. It is all about give-and-take," Mr Kioni told the Sunday Nation on the telephone.