Kalonzo to play key role as House debates new law

By Kipchumba Some

After the promulgation of the new Constitution, focus now shifts to Parliament where important legislations required for its implementation will be drafted and passed.

In this regard, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is expected to play a crucial role. His appointment last week as leader of Government Business in Parliament allows him to chair the House Business Committee responsible for scheduling and tabling Government Motions. His appointment came after a protracted tussle between President Kibaki and Prime Minister on who should sit on the post. Kibaki had appointed Kalonzo and the PM had proposed his name.

Kalonzo and the committee will play a crucial role in marshalling House support for the more than 40 legislations needed to operationalise the new law.

It is here that his skills will be put to test, when he will be required to garner bi-partisan support for debate and legislation on some of the most divisive – like land – issues in the new Constitution.

In an interview The Standard on Sunday, Kalonzo said he would depend on all MPs, without regard to party affiliations or whichever side they supported in the referendum to ensure smooth implementation of the new Constitution.

"The Tenth Parliament has a date with destiny," he said. He described the mood in Parliament as ‘correct’. Though the implementation of the new laws is in no particular danger of being scuttled since it was supported by about 200 MPs, there has been a call to embrace those who opposed it.

He challenged lawmakers to rise above party, ethnic and referendum loyalties to pass the new laws. Kalonzo defended the composition of the nine-member Cabinet sub-committee on implementation of the new law that excluded the three ministers who were in the ‘Red’ camp. Given his political background, few would have imagined the Mwingi North MP would play such a pivotal role in the new constitutional dispensation. He was considered one of the anti-reform die-hards during the Kanu rule. In his Kanu days, Kalonzo is best remembered for telling the opposition that thinking of changing the constitution was treason.

On this, he said: "The nation has turned a new leaf and there is no point in dwelling on the past. If we are to go by that rule, then there would be no one worthy of being called a reformer."