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CONTACT:
Tegi Obanda
International Coordinator
Coalition for Constitutional Reforms Kenya
Tel +1-613-316-5501
e-mail: info@madaraka-kenya.org
Ottawa, Canada—January 26, 2008--Coalition for Constitutional Reforms (CCR-Kenya) has called for a transitional government in Kenya, whose main task would be to complete the constitutional reforms and organize fresh elections in one year.
In a letter addressed to Hon. Mwai Kibaki, Hon. Raila Odinga, and copied to Mr. Kofi Annan, the reform group argues that the problem facing Kenya today is not caused by defects in electoral laws per se, but by non-transparent, and un-fettered maximum powers that are bestowed on the office of the president.
“To create a lasting solution to the ongoing political crisis,” the letter argues, “negotiations should lead to one and only one outcome: a transitional government with limited decision-making authority, and with a limited life span (maximum one year).”
The letter dismisses the power-sharing option as a solution. “Having seen a coalition in action (NARC 2003-2005 and GNU, post referendum period), CCR-Kenya is very concerned that the same power plays that derailed the constitutional reform process are going to be merely replayed in the 2008-2012 period,” the letter says.
The result would be that Kenya approaches another election in 2012 under the same old constitution that led us to this mess in the first place. CCR-Kenya greatly fears that “next time, we may indeed go the 'Rwanda way' that Kenyans have been talking about. It would be very reckless and unpatriotic for anybody to support the notion that we should go to another election under the present constitution.”
The group also dismisses a rerun without reducing presidential powers as a cosmetic approach, which, “may leave the roots of the problem intact, waiting to sprout another day.”
They call on the actors to seize on the opportunity to establish fundamental change.
“For us to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity, Kenya has to be born anew. Kenya is on a threshold, where it is calling for statesmen instead of just politicians, nationalists instead of tribalists, visionary leaders instead of managers of the status quo. The current events have presented us with a unique opportunity to seize the moment, vanquish procrastination, and embark on the most important task.” It adds.
Wanyee Kinuthia, Tegi Obanda, Peter Kironyoh and Razia Mohamedali signed the letter.
CCR-Kenya proposes the establishment of a citizen’s assembly in April 2008 to spearhead the completion of constitutional reforms by the end of the year. The Citizens Assembly will be launched on April 9-10, 2008.
The structure and agenda of the assembly will be discussed in a tele-forum scheduled for Saturday, March 1, 2008 from 5pm-7pm East Africa Time (+3hrs GMT).
These will be followed by The Way Forward forums in Washington DC (U.S), Ottawa (Canada), London (England), Stockholm (Sweden) and Nairobi (Kenya), between March 15-31, 2008.
They urge all concerned to step on the path that leads Kenya towards genuine democratic transformation.
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