Post by chifu on Aug 27, 2005 5:25:21 GMT 3
More to come on this latest development. It is unfortunate the Kibaki
government has not honored its word from employment to eradicating
corruption to having a constitution within 100 days after being
elected to office. Well the current Kenyan government is in office and
two years-corruption continues, no constitution on the radar screen
two years later and now this.
I forgot the retrenchment continues. Folks at the Kenya Railways are
now being told their pension is in jeopardy. The priorities of our
leaders. Old wine in a new bottle...here we go
Chifu
Mutiny in Kenyan cabinet as five ministers reject draft constitution
NAIROBI : Five rebel cabinet ministers urged Kenyans to reject the
country's draft new constitution, in a further blow to President Mwai
Kibaki's bid to have the text adopted in a referendum later this year.
The ministers accused the government of breaking its word, two days
after it published an amended version of the draft text, which
retained near absolute executive powers for the presidency despite
strong objections.
"We are asking you to reject it at the referendum," said the ministers
Raila Odinga of roads, Anyang' Nyongo of planning, Najib Balala of
national heritage, Kalonzo Musyoka of environment and Ochillo Ayacko
of sports in a statement.
"We may be having a good president for now, but we are not sure what
the next president will be like," the statement added.
All five ministers belong to the Liberal Democratic Party, which
joined forces with Kibaki's National Alliance Party of Kenya and
others to form the ruling National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) that
defeated the long-serving Kenya African National Union (KANU) in
December 2002.
While most of the population want the near-absolute powers of the
president watered down, a powerful minority in the government managed
to amend the draft, which was completed by a national conference in
March 2003, to preserve them.
Opposition to the draft has run high and sparked violent street
protests in the capital last month.
"We have... concurred with the president that the debate on the
constitution is a matter conscience and cabinet ministers must be
allowed to air their views freely," the ministers said.
"Let us be allowed to campaign and vote in accordance to our
convictions in the referendum over the constitution. We are making a
constitution for all Kenyans and not for any ruling party or any
president," they said.
The ministers' call deals a new blow to Kibaki's attempt on Monday to
secure approval of the constitution in a referendum set for November.
On Thursday, the powerful Federation of Churches in Kenya, which
represents 41 Christian congregations across the country, also called
for a "no" vote.
Church leaders objected to the rights the draft constitution gives to
religious courts, particularly Muslim ones, the potential for the
legalization of abortion and an alleged loophole they claim could
allow gay marriage.
The proposed text is the first major overhaul of Kenya's constitution
since the current one was approved after the east African nation won
independence from Britain in 1963.
Revising the basic law was one of Kibaki's key electoral pledges prior
to his December 2002 electoral victory, but the exercise has been
bogged down by infighting and court cases.
A group of lawmakers -- including the son of Kenya's founding
president Jomo Kenyatta, leader of the main opposition party -- had
sued to stop publication of the draft and halt the referendum,
demanding an empowered prime minister.
Following the draft's publication, the legislators, led by Uhuru
Kenyatta, are now seeking to stop the referendum on procedural grounds.
- AFP /ls
www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/165211/1/.html
government has not honored its word from employment to eradicating
corruption to having a constitution within 100 days after being
elected to office. Well the current Kenyan government is in office and
two years-corruption continues, no constitution on the radar screen
two years later and now this.
I forgot the retrenchment continues. Folks at the Kenya Railways are
now being told their pension is in jeopardy. The priorities of our
leaders. Old wine in a new bottle...here we go
Chifu
Mutiny in Kenyan cabinet as five ministers reject draft constitution
NAIROBI : Five rebel cabinet ministers urged Kenyans to reject the
country's draft new constitution, in a further blow to President Mwai
Kibaki's bid to have the text adopted in a referendum later this year.
The ministers accused the government of breaking its word, two days
after it published an amended version of the draft text, which
retained near absolute executive powers for the presidency despite
strong objections.
"We are asking you to reject it at the referendum," said the ministers
Raila Odinga of roads, Anyang' Nyongo of planning, Najib Balala of
national heritage, Kalonzo Musyoka of environment and Ochillo Ayacko
of sports in a statement.
"We may be having a good president for now, but we are not sure what
the next president will be like," the statement added.
All five ministers belong to the Liberal Democratic Party, which
joined forces with Kibaki's National Alliance Party of Kenya and
others to form the ruling National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) that
defeated the long-serving Kenya African National Union (KANU) in
December 2002.
While most of the population want the near-absolute powers of the
president watered down, a powerful minority in the government managed
to amend the draft, which was completed by a national conference in
March 2003, to preserve them.
Opposition to the draft has run high and sparked violent street
protests in the capital last month.
"We have... concurred with the president that the debate on the
constitution is a matter conscience and cabinet ministers must be
allowed to air their views freely," the ministers said.
"Let us be allowed to campaign and vote in accordance to our
convictions in the referendum over the constitution. We are making a
constitution for all Kenyans and not for any ruling party or any
president," they said.
The ministers' call deals a new blow to Kibaki's attempt on Monday to
secure approval of the constitution in a referendum set for November.
On Thursday, the powerful Federation of Churches in Kenya, which
represents 41 Christian congregations across the country, also called
for a "no" vote.
Church leaders objected to the rights the draft constitution gives to
religious courts, particularly Muslim ones, the potential for the
legalization of abortion and an alleged loophole they claim could
allow gay marriage.
The proposed text is the first major overhaul of Kenya's constitution
since the current one was approved after the east African nation won
independence from Britain in 1963.
Revising the basic law was one of Kibaki's key electoral pledges prior
to his December 2002 electoral victory, but the exercise has been
bogged down by infighting and court cases.
A group of lawmakers -- including the son of Kenya's founding
president Jomo Kenyatta, leader of the main opposition party -- had
sued to stop publication of the draft and halt the referendum,
demanding an empowered prime minister.
Following the draft's publication, the legislators, led by Uhuru
Kenyatta, are now seeking to stop the referendum on procedural grounds.
- AFP /ls
www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/165211/1/.html