Kenya - a new constitution

Yesterday was a really big day in Kenya, the country was voting for a new constitution. It is not often that we, as citizens get the chance to vote for a constitution – the principal document stating our rights and responsibilities. The constitution committee in Kenya has done a great job with the proposed constitution – its something that most Kenyans should be proud of and I guess this came through clearly in the results where 66% of the people voted in favour of the new constitution. Once implemented, the new constitution will reform the way the country is governed by bringing in regional Governors, creating a senate, overhauling the judiciary and creating a number of women centered reforms. It is also socially more equitable by incorporating rights to housing, sanitation and safe water. Though, how well it is implemented will be the next big question.

Like in any democracy people had taken sides on the constitution – some campaigning passionately for and others against. ActionAid and most of the civil society were for the new constitution given the progressive nature of many of its provisions. However, churches and others had taken the stance against it based on, what a lot of people have been calling ‘not significant’ issues including the right to abortion if the life of the mother is at stake and land distribution which will affect some very wealthy leading families in Kenya. I like the fact that Kenyans speak their mind and voice their opinions - this led to lots of interesting debates before the voting.

Given the fact that Kenyan elections, in late 2007, was followed by violence, the world has been watching this country closely for the last week expecting the two conflicting sides to react a little violently to opposing opinions. I walked on the streets in downtown Nairobi yesterday and can tell you that nothing seemed, even slightly, out of the ordinary. I think every Kenyan is keen to overcome the ghost of the last elections and therefore, there have been wide spread campaigns for peace.

These are really exciting times in Kenya!