Reform setback deplorable

Daily Nation Editorial
Publication Date: 18/11/2006

Yet another attempt to re-start the constitution review process has collapsed. Perhaps it should have been clear from the very beginning that as long as the parties involved were not coming to the table with clean hearts and open hands, there would be no progress.

The overriding principle once the talks were convened two months should have been the desire of all involved to engage in a spirit of give-and-take. All parties should have been motivated by the desire to work together and examine what can be achieved in the national interest. But, once again, selfish partisan considerations prevailed, and one group walked away.

Despite the brave front being displayed by those who remained, it must be as clear as daylight the talks are dead unless those who quit can be persuaded to come back. Any attempt by the Government to bring to Parliament any constitution amendment proposals will be a waste of time because it will never raise the requisite numbers.

And neither will the other side manage anything in that regard because it does not have the numbers either.

What is most disappointing is that false hopes were raised when the latest talks were convened under the inter-party committee that eventually became known as the Multi-Sectoral Review Forum. It was assumed that all had learnt big lessons from the previous failures to write a new constitution, particularly the outcome of the referendum.

Kenyans must have been elated that at last their leader - both government and opposition - were finally seeing sense and putting aside the fight to retain power and the pursuit of power to cooperate for the common good. These illusions were rudely shattered when the talks collapsed on Thursday.

We are approaching an election year, and it seems that unless there is divine intervention, we will be going to the polls under the same constitution all agree is in urgent need of a revamp.

We have to accept now that it will be almost impossible to have a new constitution. But with goodwill from both sides, we can at least agree on minimal changes to ensure a fairer playing ground.