WHO ARE BLOCKING REFORMS IN KENYA?

By Susan Anyangu and Lucianne Limo

A clique of non-reformists within Government is blocking implementation of the recommendations in Agenda Four.

Yesterday, Public Accounts Committee Chairman Bonny Khalwale said such leaders should be ignored to enable Kenyans achieve a new Constitution.

"The dilemma is the Cabinet of 40 has 24 individuals adversely mentioned in corruption or served in Kanu’s regime at the height of an imperial presidency," Dr Khalwale said.

He also challenged the US Government to make public the list of names of the 15 leaders it has sent warning letters and travel bans.

Lands Minister James Orengo said Kenyans must stand up and reform their country and take criticism from development partners positively.

"Any nation afraid of looking at itself in the mirror cannot come of age. The time for reforms is now, we cannot beat the bush," Mr Orengo said.

He said the era of imperial powers ended when the National Accord was signed.

No interest

International Centre for Peace and Conflict Executive Director Ndung’u Wainaina said contrary to popular belief the Coalition Government was not committed to key reforms.

"The reality is an anti-reform clique have a huge say in what goes on and are hell-bent on blocking reforms for their own personal reasons," Mr Wainaina said.

He said implementing Agenda Four would mean ending several political careers.

"The African Peer Review Mechanism Report released in 2003 was never implemented by the Narc Government. The report detailed the actual problems and ills affecting Kenya. It said not addressing the issues would cause chaos in the country and it did," he said.

The Coalition Government is under heat from the international community for failing to implement the reform agenda.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Florence Jaoko said the Government had taken steps that deserves credit, but warned more needs to be done.

"We must recognise in all fairness what the Government has done on the reform agenda, but much more needs to be done to reach where we want to be," she said.

"We must recognise in all fairness what the Government has done on the reform agenda, but much more needs to be done to reach where we want to be," she said.

A mechanism for trying the perpetrators of the chaos after the 2007 elections is yet to be put in place.

Human lights lawyer Harun Ndubi also said Parliament constitutes largely of non-reformists.

"While this may sound harsh, it is the bitter truth. When one looks at the committees within Parliament it is clear those who head them do not support the reform agenda. The commissions of inquiries have also been captured and controlled by non-reformists," Mr Ndubi said.