A multisectoral forum co-chaired Lee Karuri (right), a Nairobi-based
businessman, is expected to convene another meeting after the election
is concluded. PHOTO | NMG
Kenya could begin another round of constitutional reforms once
its election calendar comes to an end on October 31, to address
political and legal challenges that the country finds itself in in every
election year.
Working under the aegis of a
multisectoral forum — trade unions, civil society, religious leaders and
business community — agreed that the country needs political and legal
reforms to ensure that it remains stable and future elections take place
in an improved political environment.
Although the
forum’s last-ditch efforts to strike a deal before the October 26 fresh
presidential election failed and it agreed to disengage for a while, the
meeting’s co-chair Lee Karuri, a Nairobi-based businessman, is expected
to convene another meeting after the election is concluded.
Religious
leaders and the business community pushed for a post-October 26 date
for talks while trade unions and civil societies wanted the election to
be postponed to allow for reforms.
The forum, which was
formed to explore appropriate political and legal roadmaps that could
help the country deal with the current crisis, occasioned by a repeat
presidential election, is considering several options, that includes a
national dialogue conference.
Borrowing from the
Ufangamano Initiative, which set the stage for piecemeal reforms that
ensured the 2002 general election was conducted by an electoral
commission that had been constituted with the participation of political
parties, the multisectoral forum is looking at short and long term
interventions to the current crisis.
System of government
At
a meeting that took place at Muthaiga Country Club in Nairobi, on
October 21, representatives from trade unions, religious leaders, Kenya
Private Sector Alliance and the media, resolved that the forum will
reconvene immediately after the election to begin dialogue, which could
result in calls for reforms.
According to National
Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga, who withdrew from the fresh
presidential election, only electoral reforms can guarantee Kenyans free
and fair elections to avoid electoral fraud that occur in the country
every five years.
Mr Odinga has already tabled a raft
of demands dubbed irreducible minimums that if addressed, he said will
ensure free and fair elections.
President Uhuru
Kenyatta on the other hand has stated that he was ready for dialogue but
only after the presidential election of October 26 was concluded.
The
forum’s talks began with presentations from experts, among them
constitutional lawyer Maina Wachira who presented possible short term
and long term solutions to the country’s political problems, which he
noted can be addressed by a review of the Constitution to change the
system of government.
According to Mr Maina, countries
that practice parliamentary system of government enjoy stability
compared with Kenya’s presidential system.
To kick-off
the call for reforms, the forum had proposed a national dialogue
conference, where political and legal challenges the country faces after
every general election will be discussed, which could pave the way for a
constitutional review process if the proposal is adopted.
A team of experts will be contacted to prepare political and legal roadmaps on how the forum will push the reform agenda.
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