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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Mutula warns 2012 race could sabotage laws

Busia

By The Standard Business | Jan 25, 2011

By ANTONY GITONGA

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo says the 2012 succession politics could frustrate the implementation of the new laws.

He said political opportunists were likely to derail the process to resist change.

"There is no doubt the implementation of the new Constitution will be strongly resisted by those who stand to lose from the changes," Mutula said.

The minister also dismissed tribal alliances formed ahead of next year’s succession race.

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"The 2012 succession is a hindrance to the implementation and this could be a big blow to Kenyans," said the minister.

The minister also said he expected opposition to implementation and delays in Parliament during the process.

Mutula said politicians had engaged in early campaigns in total defiance to the law.

Poll chaos

He termed the campaigns premature, adding most politicians did not learnt from the 2008 post-election violence.

The minister spoke Naivasha during a three-day induction course for the members of the Committee on the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC).

He called on the committee to resist people or institutions that would try to manipulate the implementation.

"You should speak in one voice," he said. On funding, Mutula said the Government had already approved Sh3.5 billion towards the process.

"UNDP and the Commonwealth have promised to offer us support we require, including funding," said Mutula.

Addressing the meeting yesterday, Attorney General Amos Wako challenged the commission not to be intimidated by politicians as it embarks on the crucial process towards implementing the new laws.

"We must protect the implementation from personal, political or ethnic interferences and we should not give in to pressure from any quarters," he said.

Others who spoke were CIC chairman Charles Nyachae and UNDP Country Director Alfredo Teixeira.

The implementation commission is expected to work with the AG and the Law Reform Commission to ensure proper administration and legal framework are put in place to implement the new laws.