Six years later, Kenya’s new Constitution still holds great promise

William Janak, chairs the Kenya Correspondents Association.

August 27 has, since 2010, assumed significance given six years ago on this day, Kenyans adopted a profoundly radical constitutional framework through the promulgation of the largely home-grown Constitution. This Constitution replaced the tattered Independence constitution which was negotiated in faraway Lancaster House in London from 1961-62. Amid the noise around the issue of the reform of the IEBC, merger of Jubilee affiliate parties to form the Jubilee Party, and the shifting alliances within CORD, we need to spare time to reflect on the Constitution, six years on.

Politicians and other stakeholders interested in the governance of this country have been liberally quoting the Constitution and calling for fidelity to its provisions in all our engagements. This month, Jubilee leader and President Uhuru Kenyatta and CORD principal Raila Odinga, have lined up rallies across the country. But their agenda will scarcely focus on the importance of the Constitution and this month in the calendar of the country.