Kenya's mediation talks end
www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-31 16:50:58   Print

    NAIROBI, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Talks aimed at ending Kenya's post election crisis have come to an end after members of the mediation team concluded the last item on the four-point agenda.

    The mediation team on Wednesday adopted two Bills aimed at jump-starting the stalled constitutional review process and left the onus to lawmakers to speed up the adoption of the Bills to start the process.

    The mediation committee, whose last phase was chaired by Nigerian diplomat Oluyemi Adeniji, wrapped up discussions on constitutional, institutional and land reforms meant to ensure sustainable peace, address poverty, equitable access to opportunity and regional imbalances.

    Speaking to journalists after the conclusion of the talks, Adeniji said he would set up a team to monitor the implementation of their recommendations.

    "All these agreements are not meant to gather dust as has been the trend. This time we want to ensure they are carried out to the satisfaction of the Kenyan people," he said.

    The negotiators agreed to form a team to monitor the implementation of the agreements reached during the six-month of negotiations.

    He said this will ensure that reports do not gather dust like in the past. "We want to ensure that the agreements, however, nice they may be, are implemented in full to the satisfaction of Kenyans," the Nigerian diplomat said.

    He said the countdown to a new constitution would only begin when the two key Bills aimed at jumpstarting the process were adopted by Parliament.

    The Bills include the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2008 which proposes to amend the constitution to insert a new section, 47A, to provide for the replacement of the current constitution.

    The Constitution of Kenya Review 2008 on the other hand, proposes the road map to a desirable constitution.

    Adeniji said the team, to be based at the African Union offices in Nairobi, would conduct periodic reviews and report to the government and Panel of Eminent African Personalities.

    Justice Minister Martha Karua introduced the Bills in the House for the first reading on Tuesday.

    "You cannot expect a new constitution by January because at thebeginning of the year you didn't have a government and the country was up in flames. So you can only count a year after legislators approve those Bills," Adeniji stated.

    "We hope Parliament will show its good faith by adopting those Bills before adjourning."

    The eight-member negotiating team resolved that a new constitution, which is crucial for the implementation of Agenda Item Four, should be in place one year after the Constitution of Kenya Review Bill and the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill are passed by Parliament.

    Agenda Four which was concluded entailed coming up with constitutional, institutional, land and legal reforms to ensure sustainable peace, address poverty, inequity, equitable access to opportunity and regional imbalances.

    It also involves tackling unemployment, particularly among the youth, consolidating national cohesion, promoting transparency and accountability in the affairs of government, and fighting corruption among others.

    The talks of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation team began in February this year to end a bloody political crisis in the country.

    It is credited with drafting the National Peace Accord that was signed by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, effectively ushering in a coalition government and leading to an end to the countrywide flare-up.

    Other members of the African Union Panel of Eminent Personalities (leading the mediation process) were Graca Machel, the wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa.

    The negotiation team comprises of ministers drawn from president Kibaki's PNU and Odinga's ODM parties. 

Editor: An
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