RAILA, KALONZO REMIND MPS OF THEIR ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING THE NEW CONSTITUTION

STEPHEN MUDIARI | NATION . Prime Minister Raila Odinga mingles with other members of Parliament during a cocktail party that was held for MPs at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, August 31, 2010.The party was organised by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

By CAROLINE WAFULA
Posted Wednesday, September 1 2010 at 13:58

Kenyan legislators have been reminded that the spotlight is now on Parliament and whether they are going to live up to expectations and facilitate successful implementation of the new Constitution.

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Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the task ahead was challenging and not easy but expressed confidence that the 10th Parliament was up to the task and will quickly pass the necessary legislation.

The two spoke to dignitaries among them legislators, envoys, civil society and religious leaders who attended a cocktail at Parliament Gardens to celebrate the promulgation of the new Constitution.

The party was hosted by the Vice President.

Both the PM and the VP urged politicians to put aside their political differences and work in unity to implement the new Constitution.

“We are going to very challenging times of anchoring the provisions of the new Constitution and Parliament is equal to the task and can do so…Kenyans are watching, ” Mr Odinga said.

He said the succession politics should be shunned at all costs and focus be on implementing the new constitutional provisions.

“..on the question of 2012, it will come when it will come and we don’t even know who will be alive and who will not so let us not speculate on who is going to be in alliance with who…let us put the 2012 agenda aside and not act along our party lines but work as one…” said the PM.

Addressing the party, the VP said it is easy to carry out a revolution but harder to consolidate the gains.

“The journey is not yet quite over…but the destination is indeed nigh,” he said.” It is easier to carry out a revolution but harder to consolidate that revolution. This to us means that the real success of the 10th parliament in helping our country to achieve a new Constitution and usher in the Second Republic lies in our statutory role of facilitating implementation of the Constitution through debate and passage of the requisite legislation,” he said.

He said there are many bills that shall be tabled before Parliament and expressed hope that MPs will be present in House sitting to deliberate on them.

“The 10th Parliament has a date with history and we hope they will attend sitting and expedite passage of the Bills,” he said.

He added: “Parliament should quickly pass the necessary legislation”.

Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende said the promulgation of the new Constitution had earned Kenya a place among the community of nations as a civil country and will continue to uphold democracy.

He also expressed relief that the Government had at long last been able to agree and appoint a chair of the House Business Committee, relieving him of what he described as a burden of chairing the crucial House committee that draws the calendar of Parliament.

He said he will continue to support the House committee to plan for the House activities, saying he had come along way with both the PM and the VP having been a chair of ODM legal committee at some point.

Mr Marende expressed confidence in the MPs saying they were up to the task. “Anyone sceptical about this is in the wrong place because this Parliament will deliver a new Constitution,” he stated.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta spoke in the same spirit saying though there were opposing teams during the recent campaigns, that should be put behind.

“We now have a team to work together, the hard work in front of us is implementing the new Constitution,” he said.

Mr Kalonzo said Parliament was currently a construction site given the provisions of the newly adopted Constitution.

Add a comment (3 comments so far)

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1. Submitted by odhiodongo
   Posted September 01, 2010 05:20 PM

   Indeed, the legislators should channel their energy towards the implementation of the new constitution. They need to study those bills thoroughly. Kenyans have high expectation on them. Nonetheless, other stakeholders should also compliment the MPs' efforts in these critical legislation!

2. Submitted by Joepublic
   Posted September 01, 2010 04:20 PM

   " What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." - Albert Pike

3. Submitted by elinyanje
   Posted September 01, 2010 03:26 PM

   Well done Parliament, that is the way to go and Kenyan people are watching.