Journey to our New Constitution

After 20 years, we’re about to have a new constitution – but then that’s the story of our life - so near yet so far. If I had a nickel for each time we were told, or it seemed, a new constitution was in sight….

But then I suppose there’s a positive side to this. When it finally is ready, it will be like a well-matured wine – or cheese. I don’t believe this is a document to be hurried, and, seeing as we do have an existing constitution, it’s probably better to take our time and turn every stone, than to rush and find we’ve dug ourselves into a hole.

The best time to produce such a document is when everyone is feeling philanthropic and nationally patriotic, and I believe this was the mood during the earlier successful consensus-building meeting. Then one thing led to another and goodwill disappeared and the latest attempt at the same failed as personal interest took centre stage.

I say in that kind of climate it’s better to delay the document than to bring down or pollute 20years of intelligent, excruciating, and dedicated work.

When we do finally have a new constitution, everything that can possibly be discussed will have been discussed for twenty years at least. Indeed, many Kenyans from all walks of life now know to various levels of detail what is in the new constitution. This is a document we own, and that sense of participation and ownership is deeply necessary for patriotism and national cohesion.

This is a people’s document and everyone involved knows as long as there’ll be a referendum, the people’s wishes cannot be ignored.

So it’s with great anticipation that we all wait for what finally seems to be the year of the new constitution. If it does happen we will all breath a sigh of relief and say, ‘Whew! Are we glad that’s finally over…’ If it fails we will breath a sigh of resignation and say, ‘Oh…so close! but not at all surprising. Another round of debates, and yet more expenditure of public funds.’

This time though we all really hope it succeeds, and there’s real expectation in the air. Indeed anyone who interferes with this for no genuine reason will be a true disappointment to Kenyans. There has never been a better time in our country’s history to finally produce a new constitution…

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