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Posted to the web 30 April 2008
Abiya Ochola, Beauttah Omanga, Evelyne Ogutu, Susan Anyangu, and Morton Saulo
Kenyans could vote at another referendum if a new roadmap unveiled on Tuesday gives the country a new constitution within the year.
But there were concerns that voting at another plebiscite only months after a disputed presidential election, which almost ripped the country apart, could further polarise the country.
Pessimists argued that campaigns for or against the document could plunge the country into another round of high stakes political games and brinksmanship. This was witnessed in 2005 at a referendum on the draft constitution, which the Government side lost.
This view appeared grounded in the argument that the Grand Coalition Government, cobbled together to haul the country out of the crippling post-General Election violence, may have not gained a strong foothold in just a year.
On Tuesday, the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee gave the strongest hint yet that the country could have a new constitution in a year and told Kenyans to brace for another referendum battle.
Negotiators at the Serena mediation talks said the referendum was mandatory on a day they unveiled a five-phase roadmap towards a new constitutional dispensation.
The mediators mandated Constitutional Affairs minister, Ms Martha Karua, to within two weeks come up with a draft constitutional referendum Bill, which will form the basis for a new constitution process. This will serve as the first phase of the process.
The urgency of the matter was underlined when the negotiators agreed that the Karua draft be the subject of discussion when the talks resume on May 14.
The constitutional referendum Bill, once passed, will establish the powers of the stakeholders and provide a legal framework for the review process.
Beat one-year deadline
Present at the session of the Serena talks were Cabinet ministers, Mr James Orengo, Ms Karua, Prof Sam Ongeri, Mr Mutula Kilonzo, Mr William Ruto and Mr Moses Wetangula. Dr Sally Kosgey, the Higher Education minister and a member of the team, did not attend.

allafrica.com