Nairobi — Parliament will reconvene earlier from its Christmas break in mid February to receive the harmonised draft Constitution.

Parliament normally takes a long break from mid December to March.

However, the calendar of the constitutional review process will require MPs to be back at least from February 26 to March 27 to receive the draft from the Parliamentary Select Committee on the review process.

The House is required to debate the draft for 30 days.

On Thursday, Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo said he had alerted the House Business Committee to put in mind the constitutional review programme. Responding to a query by Garsen MP Danson Mungatana, Mr Kilonzo said he will advise President Kibaki on the need to reconvene the House early.

He said he had received a firm undertaking from the chairman of the House Business Committee, Speaker Kenneth Marende that the House will reconvene to receive the draft.

Mr Marende informed the House the President had already agreed to the programme. The Speaker gave his assurance at a meeting attended by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The Committee of Experts will hand over the draft to the Parliamentary Select Committee on the review process after considering views gathered from the public during the ongoing 30 day debate.

After consensus has been built on the draft by the PSC, it will be tabled in Parliament.