Gigantic challenges that face the country this year

By Stephen Makabila

This year, the country will be walking a tightrope politically, given the heavy burden of pending reforms, likely to define its future this decade and beyond.

To borrow the words of US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger: "2010 is a defining year for Kenya."

The final Harmonised Constitutional Draft to be delivered by the Committee of Experts (CoE) forwarded to Parliament and later taken through a national referendum is one of the major political challenges.

The verdict by Kenyans come the national referendum will decide whether the country finally adopts a new constitution or fails, as was the case in 2005 when the Wako Draft was rejected.

Signs of disagreement between key political players have been evident, especially when it comes to whether to go presidential, parliamentary or have a hybrid system of government. Voices of reason have been calling for three drafts to be taken for the referendum, if consensus fails.

Among those who have suggested this include Roads Minister Franklin Bett and Assistant Minister Wilfred Machage.

University of Nairobi Political Scientist Adams Oloo says constitutional reforms are a must if 2012 elections have to be smooth.

Ranneberger, while speaking in Eldoret on Wednesday, indicated the year would "define whether the country moves forward on the basis of reform or have another crisis".

The country also welcomes a new year while still healing from the violence that followed the 2007 disputed presidential election results.

Eyes will be on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in trying to nail those behind the violence, as the Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has already swung into action.

On the home front, church leaders feel politicians lack the goodwill to promote national healing two years after the country plunged into tribal violence.

Tribal alliances

Catholic head John Cardinal Njue and Anglican Arc-Bishop Eliud Wabukala are among clerics who insist leaders are still pursuing tribal alliances for selfish interests.

"There is a lot of concern as politicians still make dangerous utterances that threaten healing," Njue was quoted saying three days ago.

Dr Wabukala on his part says Kenyans, particularly politicians, were forgetful of events that led to the post-election crisis.

The concern by church leaders comes even as some of the over 350,000 people displaced by the violence that claimed more than 1,000 lives are yet to be fully re-settled.

Constitutional issues and post-election violence aside, eyes will be on the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) chaired by former Vihiga MP Andrew Ligale.

Many Kenyans expect boundaries of the current 210 constituencies to be reviewed and increased, owing to varying factors.

Some constituencies have very high populations while others are too expansive to be served by one MP. There are those that are equally populous and expansive.

The IIBRC went round provinces last year to hear views from leaders before settling down to business this year, and it has a gigantic challenge

The Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) on its part is supposed to carry out fresh voter registration apart from conducting the South Mugirango by-election for the seat left vacant by ODM National Treasurer Omingo Magara following a successful petition.

The IIEC’s work may not be easy and it may need to work hand in hand with the IIBRC, which is supposed to define constituency boundaries, in case there might be any changes from the current ones.

The Government is also expected to embark on phase two of the controversial Mau Forest evictions, which may further take political temperatures to boiling point.

Collision course

Kenya Forest Service sources indicate the exercise will kick off shortly after President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga tour the forest for a tree planting ceremony on the Narok North and Molo districts borders.

The Mau evictions have in the past put the PM on a collision course with a section of Rift Valley MPs led by Agriculture Minister William Ruto.

The friction has seen the Ruto group team up with Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to form a political alliance as they position themselves for the 2012 General Election.

The challenge of the Grand Coalition Government speaking with one voice also exists, given that ministers have been opposing each other on policy issues in public.

Attempts by President Kibaki and the PM to whip them into toeing the line during a retreat in Mombasa late last year have not achieved much.

 

Read all about: Harmonised Constitutional Draft

 

 

|   |    |    Comments (0) |   Add Comment

---