Kenya's Day of Pride; The Birth of a New Republic

[Ab-Titchaz]

Wakuu,

kwanza kabisa I would like to extend a congratulatory message to all our Kenyan Members in this forum and guests alike for having ushered in a new constitution which reflects the desire of the majority of the wananchi of the republic of Kenya. After all the enthusiasm and euphoria surrounding the referendum, the D-day has finally arrived when President Kibaki will lead this great nation in a rebirth of the democratic ideals of their founding fathers.


The most significant changes in the new constitution include:

• Parliamentary oversight of most presidential appointments and decisions
• Constitutional limits on the number of cabinet posts
• A senate to review parliamentary decisions
• Powerful provincial governments replaced by a network of smaller counties
• The creation of a Judicial Service Commission
• A citizens' Bill of Rights
• A land commission to return stolen property and review past abuses

It has been a struggle that has not come easy bearing in mind the pulling and tagging based on tribal arithmetic that has always crippled the nation of Kenya. Hand in hand with these machinations has been the fact that the former constitution was inherited from the colonial masters and it was used to propagate successive dictatorial regimes...albeit 'within the boundaries of the law'.

Lets all as members of JF extend our congratulatory message to our neighbors and wish them well as they pursue this new journey.

Nawasilisha kwa niaba ya
JF Administrative Crew

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

A nation reborn as 20-year dream finally comes true

President Kibaki will on Friday use a special seal to officially usher in the new constitution at a colourful ceremony at Uhuru Park, Nairobi. And to make sure everything was in order, head of public service Francis Muthaura (left) and other government officials on Thursday ensured that the instruments to be used were working as they should.

​

By ERIC SHIMOLI
Posted Thursday, August 26 2010 at 22:30


At about 10 o'clock Friday morning, Kenya will change forever. President Mwai Kibaki will receive, read and sign the legal instruments, proclaiming the new Constitution into law.

It will be the culmination of 20 years of a stop-and-go review process, which started in the late 1980s and gathered steam in the early 1990s. The signing will take place in a big ceremony at the historic Uhuru Park in central Nairobi.

Immediately President Kibaki publicly reads and signs the Instruments of Promulgation of the new Constitution, the country will be radically restructured, bringing to an end 47 years of post-independence history and setting it on a new course.

At least eight regional presidents and heads of State will attend, as well as representatives of the UN Secretary-General, the African Union, European Union, ambassadors and high commissioners.

Also in attendance will be the members of the Kofi Annan-led committee of eminent persons who successfully negotiated an end to Kenya's post-election violence in January and February 2008 following the disputed presidential election, and former African heads of state and governments.

Kenyans voted overwhelmingly for the new Constitution in the August 4 referendum, with nearly 68 per cent of voters endorsing it. President Kibaki and First Lady Lucy Kibaki are expected at Uhuru Park at 9.1 am. They will be received by the Chief of General Staff, Gen Jeremiah Kianga.

The President is scheduled to inspect a military Guard of Honour. Attorney-General Amos Wako will hand the President the Instruments of Promulgation, a statement confirming the enactment of the new constitution. He will read it loudly, sign it and affix the seal of the Republic from a giant machine.

This will be followed by a 21-gun salute fired by a military canon as a giant national flag is hoisted atop Uhuru Park Hill. The event will be celebrated with entertainment by various groups and a march-past by detachments of the uniformed services.

President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende and Chief Justice Evan Gicheru will also take new oaths of allegiance and due execution of office under the new constitution.

President Kibaki, Mr Odinga, Mr Musyoka and all ministers will each take two oaths. In one, they will pledge allegiance to the new constitution while in the other they will swear to be faithful to their office.

Mr Justice Gicheru will be the first public official to take a new oath of office. He will then swear in the President. They will swear to obey, respect, preserve, defend and uphold the new Constitution and to serve Kenyans.

The swearing in of ministers, assistant ministers, permanent secretaries, and force and service commanders is scheduled to take place later on Friday. On Thursday, MPs refused to attend Parliament on Saturday to be sworn in as earlier planned. Instead, they voted to have a session at 3pm Friday afternoon during which they will take the oath.

Consequently, judges and magistrates will also be sworn in on Friday at the High Court. After the swearing in at Uhuru Park, there will be a march-past by defence forces, Kenya Police, Administration Police, Prison Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and National Youth Service.

There will also be a drive-past accompanied by armed forces' band and corps of drums. This will then be followed by a fly-past by the Kenya Air Force jets.

Daily Nation: - Politics |A nation reborn as 20-year dream finally comes true

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Free at last, from the tyranny of the State

By RAILA ODINGA
Posted Thursday, August 26 2010 at 15:33


On Friday, August 27, 2010, the old order has died and a new one born in our country. Our imprisonment in the colonial constitutional dispensation is over. The Imperial Presidency that the post-colonial regimes have created is now buried in history. A grand new republic - Kenya's Second Republic – is born.

The constitution of our new Republic frees and empowers every citizen. We are free from tyranny of the State - police brutality, arbitrary imprisonment, suppression of freedom of speech, unfair taxation. Every Kenyan has the right to be free from hunger, to decent health care and to education.

Every Youth has the right to a job. Every Kenyan who belongs to a marginalised group or has disability has the right to demand affirmative action. Truly democratic values are now imbedded throughout our institution of governance. Not even the President is above the law.

Not even the President enjoys absolute power. Exercise of all authority is subject to checks and balances. All public servants are accountable to the people. Our Constitution creates a state in which citizens are the centre of the moral universe. Moreover, our Constitution brings government close to the people.

Through devolution, powers and resources are dispersed from the Centre to the regions. The people who live in a County decide how they use the resources devolved to them. I am convinced, and constitutional scholars agree, that this is one of the best constitutions in the world.

But our aspirations will not become reality by a stroke of a pen. Kenya is still largely associated with corruption and impunity. Economic crimes such as Goldenberg and Anglo-Leasing have become part of Kenyan lexicon. So have extrajudicial killings, political assassinations, police brutalities and tribal conflicts.

Poverty is still a national scourge. Yet at independence, Kenya was one of the most hopeful nations on earth. It was at par with South Korea. Today, South Korea is one of the top industrialised countries in the world. Kenya is still mired in the Third World. Corruption and abuse of power by political leaders and high officials is to blame.

Mandate to tackle issues

The good news is, the new Constitution gives us a clear mandate to tackle these issues. It is with a new breed of leaders who are truly committed to serve the Nation - and determined efforts by all of us - that our aspirations can become reality. Our new Constitution gives us a start.

It is clear on the values leaders must reflect: patriotism, personal integrity, competence and suitability, democracy and belief in rule of law. All State officers must be objective and impartial, and must not be influenced by nepotism, favouritism or corrupt practices. They are prohibited from participating in any gainful employment other than their public offices.

Our Constitution entrusts the citizens to produce - and sustain - the new breed of leadership that it desires. Citizens are expected to elect the President, MPs, the Governors, and Members of Local Assembly who meet the leadership and integrity requirements of the Constitution. If MPs or Members of Local Assembly do not perform, citizens have the right to recall them.

Through their MPs, citizens also have the right to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President. Moreover, if the President or Parliamentary commissions appoint a State officer who does not fully meet the constitutional leadership and integrity requirements, citizens have the right to institute court proceedings.

Importantly, every citizen has the right of access to information held by the State. This will help the citizens to exercise these and other rights. In a nutshell, the Kenya we enter on Friday has to be a democratic state driven by the conviction that the status quo is unacceptable.

But I emphasise that the new constitution can only bring change if there is a political leadership that is committed to change and has the political will to affect that change. It is my conviction that with the new Constitution, Kenyans will elect leaders who have no vested interests in the current status quo, who are incorruptible, who have integrity and who will swear not to divide Kenya on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion, clan, region, class, gender and generation.

New leadership in Kenya means organising politics on policies, particularly on sustainable development and rights, rather than on what divides Kenya. We have a new slogan in the air; Katiba Mpya, Ungozi Mpya (new Constitution, new leadership). Going forward, I wish to maintain the unity that delivered this Constitution, and to join hands with all reform forces.

I see in this new constitution and the Second Republic that it creates, an enormous potential for our self renewal; our moment to overleap our own failures. I am very hopeful because the Second Republic comes at a time Kenya is alive with creative energy. We have a generation of young people brought up to a cross-cultural cosmopolitanism and who are not held hostage by the past. It is a generation in which you do not detect particularly the sad ethnic and tribal divides that derailed our First Republic.

Stand test of time

This generation is reason enough for me to believe that our Second Republic will stand the test of time. Given the atrocities this nation has survived, I have every reason to believe that the worst is behind us and from now on, it can only get better. We have had some regrettable past full of bitterness and despair.

Yet it is because of that very past that I think the Second Republic will succeed. That past must make us approach the coming of the Second Republic as immigrants from elsewhere who are constructing a new house for ourselves. I have faith that our own past colossal failure will propel us to embrace a new mindset and remake ourselves dramatically.

Mr Odinga is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

President Ahmed Abdalla Sambi of Comoros inspects a guard of honour upon arrival in Nairobi, Thursday, to attend Friday's promulgation of the new Constitution.​

 

[Jasusi]

Congratulations Kenya. You have shown the way forward. I am proud of you and proud to be your neighbour.

 

[Nyaralego]

Ahsante mkuu ABT,
Thank you!!...do your thing, keep the pictures coming!!! Long live the new rebublic...Long Live Kenya.
Lets pray and hope that nothing funny happens though. Im still a little cynical.

 

[PakaJimmy]

Ni hatua ya matumaini na kutia moyo..Lakini pia ni ujasiri wa juu sana.Hapo ndipo Watanzania tunapotofautiana na Wakenya!..Linapokuja jambo la kitaifa wanashikamana kama kitu kimoja!
Mungu aibariki sana siku hii kubwa kwenu!

 

[nomasana]

for anyone to apreciate what kenya has achieved you have to look where the country was 2yrs ago.

in 2008
a divided kenya that was at the brink of a tribal propelled civil war
a grossly rigged and mismaneged election
and economy that had stagnated
a flawed constitution
formed a coalition govt of "equal" patners(which had not been done before in the mordern world) hence there was no example for the kenya govt to follow. they had to blaze their own trail

in 2010
a coalition govt so efficient that it is being copied by zimbabwe
a growing economy
an electoral body so effient that it regained the trust of the citizens
a healing country that got united by the search of a new constitution
above all now kenya has A CONSTITUTION that can be easily one of the best constitution in the continent

what kenya has achieved in 2 and a half yrs is basically unheard of in africa.

i have to be honest at some points esp the naivasha retreat, i had started to doubt my country but by approving this constitution KENYANS HAVE FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL PROVED THAT THEY WILL NEVER EVER EVER GIVE UP ON THIS LAND WE CALL HOME.

may the good lord bless and keep my country kenya!!!!!

to see my country learn from its mistakes and mature up makes me wanna shed a tear or two

 

[Manda]

Hand in hand with other JF members, it worth congratulating Kenyans for this important milestone they have achieved so far. Though, whilst, congratulating them we need to take note that, constitutional and constitutionalism are two subtle things, of coz, the former leads to the latter, though that's not a guarantee.
Sijui ni mara ngapi viongozi wetu wa Kiafrika they have stamped their constitution with their feet. While pushing for new constitution, that should go hand in hand with the act of constitutionalism from all organs of the state as well creating strong institutions which will watchdog the constitution.
Kila la kheri ndugu zetu na pengine sisi majirani twaweza tumia nafasi hii kujifunza mawili matatu. Kwa Wakenya, huu ni mwanzo tu, pengine tuite mwanzo mzuri wa kubadili mambo mengine taratibu.
Cheerz!

 

[MWANALUGALI]

Nabubujikwa na machozi hapa mbele ya luninga yangu ninapoangalia Citizen TV ya kenya wakishangilia na kuzindua katiba yao mpya. Kama una uwezo sasa fungulia uone wenzetu wanavyo rebrand nchi yao na kuingia enzi mpya ya maendeleo. Hivi sisi hasa watawala wetu hatuwezi kujifunza kutoka kwa wenzetu?
Wenyewe wametangaza kuwa ni sherehe za kuzindua Jamhuri ya pili na sherehe kubwa za pili tengu wamepata uhuru.

Karume ameish fika ila Kikwete hajaingia viwanja vya Uhuru, Museveni na Moi wamezomewa.

Viongozi wetu hawaoni umuhimu pia wetu wa kuwa na katba mpya, tuaingia kwenye jamhuri ya pili na kupata nafasi ya kuandika katiba yetu wenyewe kuliko hiyo iliyopo na viraka kibao

 

[MWANALUGALI]

Mkapa , Koffi Anan, Raila, Balozi wa Marekani nchini kenya ndio wameshangiliwa sana walipoingia hapo viwanjani

 

[Shadow]

Wakenya leo wanaanza mwanzo mpya naona Rais Kibaki ndo anaingia uwanjani akiwa katika Landrover special ya kijeshi kumtambulisha kamaAmiri jeshi mkuu

 

[Shadow]

Sasa wimbo wa taifa la Kenya unaimbwa...Tanzania tunawakilishwa na Rais Karume wa SMZ na Rais Mstaafu Benjamini Mkapa

 

[Shadow]

M7 na Kagame naona wapo pia katika meza Kuu. Jamani natumaini hii itaweza kuweka tumaini kwa watanzania nao kuanza kufikiria kuachana na 'kuweka' viraka katika 'godoro lililochakaa':smile-big: na 'kununua godoro jipya'

 

[Shadow]

Naona Rais Kibaki sasa ndo anakagua gwaride rasmi...

The Second Covenant-Kenya's Big Day



Updated 10 hr(s) 37 min(s) ago
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EDITOR'S COMMENT

The mood is electrifying, the beckon of a promising tomorrow so strong, the celebratory spirit across the nation palpable, and the moment consuming and enthralling.

A chapter is closing and new one opening, and in the words of Goethe, from our hearts rises the silent chant: "From today and from this place there begins a new epoch in the history of the world." For this Friday's story is simply the world's story; it is celebration of democracy and the will to change the course of humanity.

As Kenya strides majestically and stoically into a new dawn at this Friday's historic fete, it is time for reflection even as we move forward as a united and proud people.

On this day, we the people of Kenya stand on the threshold of history and the doorway to a promising tomorrow. This day is a tribute first to we Kenyans of all shades, race, creed and ages, full of hope and promise for a better future. Ringing loud across the land is our resilience and rallying call of our founding fathers - One Nation, One People.

Second covenant

We have given ourselves this Constitution as a Second Covenant in the form of a new tablet of laws, hewn by our own hands in the belief that it shall be exercised by those upon whom we vest power and authority. We remain thankful that notwithstanding challenges we have faced, we have been peaceful.

At Independence 47 years ago, our forefathers won the battle for our land, freedom and self-determination. The governance structures - some of which we inherited and others that we created - have brought us thus far, with many challenges on the way, but still as One People, One Nation.

And so this Frday's landmark promulgation of the new Constitution is a generational handover of the baton that we received from our forefathers, to build and nurture for the coming generations.

On this day, we stand tall to be counted among the family of nations as a democracy that has peacefully and resolutely replaced its supreme laws in a referendum decades after Independence and embraced a new dawn where the will of the people shall forever prevail in the management of its affairs.

Landmark event

As we celebrate the landmark event, we congratulate and extend to each other best wishes and a hand of brotherhood and sisterhood as we begin a new, exciting yet difficult challenge of implementing this Constitution and planting requisite support pillars.

As our founding fathers stated at Independence, the task of nation building was always going to be a long and difficult journey that entails sacrifices and hard work. Today, this still holds true. And this day thrusts upon us the burden of eternal vigilance, to safeguard the spirit and letter of our new laws; whose cornerstones are an enhanced democratic space, accountability, stronger institutions, justice for all, respect for human rights and the need for our leadership to embrace the highest levels of integrity.

Today we pause to remember those who fell on the way, those who paid the ultimate price, and those who still bear the wounds of the struggle. It is also a moment to sit back and count our blessings as a nation and garland our leaders who, at the hour of need, rallied the nation behind this singular course.

Our finest hour

Today, standing before us they stir memories of the powerful speech British wartime premier Sir Winston Churchill delivered in June 1940 to rally his people against the invader: "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, "This was their finest hour." Our principals and all other political leaders have, in today's festivity, their finest hour.

While we have created several institutional pillars in the new Constitution - that include devolved structures of governance, an independent judicial system, a two-tier Legislature comprising the National Assembly and the Senate, a redefined Executive arm of Government - the critical responsibility lies with us the people to ensure the following: First, that it is the character of the holders of these offices that will ensure that the institutions fulfill their respective assigned mandates.

Meritocracy and qualification for office must be taken into account in all appointments, and Parliament play its vetting role.

No horse trading

Secondly, tomorrow's appointments must not be seen to represent the culture of conspiracy and horse-trading for short-term considerations.

Thirdly, the leadership positions at all levels - be it County, National Assembly, Senate or the Executive - must comprise only persons of proven credentials, ability and integrity.

It is we, the people, who will determine the calibre of the leaders to assume these positions through a democratic electoral process that is devoid of material influences.

Fourthly, the need to maintain a national outlook representation where qualified people across the country, and not any one area, are considered. The Constitution that takes effect today seeks to create the face of Kenya in all aspects of governance, gender balance and disadvantaged groups.

Indeed, every community in this country can produce a qualified person for any position. As JM Kariuki famously stated, this country has all we need, but not for the greed of all of us.

Fifthly, this Constitution in its opening chapter closes the window on impunity by those in office and vests power on the basis of accountability to us, the people. We cannot afford to engage in an endless blame-game over those we put in positions of authority, as they must remain accountable to us.

Sixth, we must all seize the moment to embrace a new dawn by complementing today's national renewal with attitudinal and culture change.

Seventh, as a member of the community of nations, we must set an enduring legacy as a nation that embraces democratic practices and promotes co-existence while offering an influencing leadership position for the growth and development of the African continent.

We must remain globally engaged and build an environment to attract and promote international investment and trade.
We must proactively confront the myriad of challenges facing our nation with respect to poverty, unemployment hunger and disease. Further, we must create a conducive environment to engender productivity, self-reliance and better living standards.

Guarantee prosperity

Finally, the making of a Constitution is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a rigorous journey of modernisation so as to guarantee justice, economic growth and prosperity for all while maintaining an enabling stable socio-economic and political governance structures.

Let us appreciate that the enormity of this responsibility rests on all of us, the leaders and the led. For the opportunity for our country lies in the future and not in the past.

Long Live Kenya.

The Standard | Online Edition :: The Second Covenant-Kenya's Big Day&

 

[Shadow]

Uhuru Park imetapika wakenya.

 

[Njowepo]

Yah naona TBC,ITV na channel 5 wanarusha live.
Nona kuna haja ya kulifanyia kazi ili suala la mabadiliko ya katiba kwa kuanzia Tuwe na tuume huru ya uchaguzi.
Mambo ya kabala ya matokeo ya uchaguzi Raisi ndo anapelekwa matokeo alafu ndo anatoa go ahead ni uhuni ndo yaliyoikumba kenya enzi za mzee Kivuitu sijui kivui anapeleka matokeo anakuta raisi yuko na judge anangoja kuapishwa

 

[ELNIN0]

M7 na Kagame naona wapo pia katika meza Kuu. Jamani natumaini hii itaweza kuweka tumaini kwa watanzania nao kuanza kufikiria kuachana na 'kuweka' viraka katika 'godoro lililochakaa':smile-big: na 'kununua godoro jipya'

Hongera wakenya kuamua kununua godoro jipya - vp kwa kwetu hajaalikwa nini?

 

[Shadow]

Yah naona TBC,ITV na channel 5 wanarusha live.
Nona kuna haja ya kulifanyia kazi ili suala la mabadiliko ya katiba kwa kuanzia Tuwe na tuume huru ya uchaguzi.
Mambo ya kabala ya matokeo ya uchaguzi Raisi ndo anapelekwa matokeo alafu ndo anatoa go ahead ni uhuni ndo yaliyoikumba kenya enzi za mzee Kivuitu sijui kivui anapeleka matokeo anakuta raisi yuko na judge anangoja kuapishwa

Mkuu Njowepo, wazo zuri hilo

 

[Kaizer]

Kutoka viwanja vya Uhuru hapa Nairobi,

Mh. Kibaki amemaiza kukagua gwaride la heshima sasa atachukua nafasi, kisha sala zifuate

Naona Museveni na Moi wamekaa karibu2, Karume pia yupo na Mkapa, Annan, Kirr, na Al bashir wa sudan,