As you all know, Kenya is voting on the adoption of a new constitution in the coming weeks. This constitution is likely to get passed – even though it is, in my opinion, a flawed document.
For a start, it contains too much stuff which shouldn’t be there, and has likely been included solely to keep some MPs constituency happy. Secondly, there are many clauses which say that parliament can enact legislation later on which amends the constitution (so what are we voting on exactly?). Thirdly is the fact that the ‘yes’ campaign has all the resources of the government behind it – whilst the ‘no’ vote gets nothing. Official adverts state ‘Say YES to the new constitution. Say no to corruption.’ Not biased… Of course, our Dave supports it so how can it be bad? Bastard.
No plan survives first contact with the enemy, and likewise the constitution will surprise all of us in its impacts when implemented (I am sure a yes vote shall be passed). The real fear, of course, is that there will be more violence. Apparently, Kikuyu and Kalinjin mobs have been getting pissed and singing war songs at each other in the Rift Valley (places like Nakuru and Naivasha). You see, not everyone wants the constitution. President Moi had a habit of dishing land out to people/tribes he liked, and the constitution aims to rectify these abuses. But the government has put an extra 15,000 police on the streets with the wildlife rangers still to be deployed, in the hope of containing any trouble. Let us pray everything remains peaceful – or that everyone gets too drunk to move.
Something that has amused me greatly is the MPs scrabbling for a pay rise before it is passed. Kibaki blocked it, the good old alpha.
But what is in the air is hope. Hope for a better future. Hope that corruption will cease. Hope that the law will be there for the little man, as well as the big. Let’s hope that this all comes to pass.
As for me, I am too much of a cynic…
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