Kenyan Churches Unite to Oppose Historic New Constitution

Mainstream Christian Churches in Kenya are rising up to reject the Country's Revised Constitution - the Wako Draft which began print today under heavy security.

The Churches are emphatically campaigning for a 'No' vote in a forthcoming November referendum on the revised Constitution, which has been put together by Attorney General Amos Wako.

For the last two weeks, Wako and a team of consitution drafers have pitched camps in Leisure Beach Hotel in the South Coast preparing the Draft so that it could be submitted within 30 days of passing through Parliament, thereby meeting the deadlines set out in the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Act.

However, there is huge opposition to the Draft which is seen as a betrayal to the people. It drastically revises an original document put together by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC)last year - popularly known as the Bomas Draft.

"Kenyans had written the constitution they wanted. It is called the Bomas Draft. That is actually the constitution." said Catholic Archbishop Zaccheus Okoth.

And speaking in Eldoret on Thursday, the chairman of the Catholic Episcopal Conference, Bishop Cornelius Korir, said the Catholic Church does not recognise the Kilifi recommendations from which the current Wako Draft is based.

Nairobi based Bishop Margaret Wanjiru of Jesus is Alive Ministries also said her Church would oppose the draft constitution due to the arrogance of the government.

"We have tried our best to negotiate with all parties ever since 2002. We have put our demands on the table, that the constitution should be made neutral when it comes to religious matters, but for some strange reason, the government is still insisting on including the Kadhi's courts in the constitution," Bishop Wanjiru said.

The Anglican Church have backed the sentiments of the other mainstream Churches in Kenya. Bishop Kenneth Ochiel of South Nyanza's said the Church would not accept the new constitution since it elevates one religion by the inclusion of Kadhi's courts - Islamic religious courts.

"Since there is freedom of worship, all denominations should be treated equally. That is why we will block all attempts to include the Kadhi's courts in the constitution," he said.

And in Maseno West, Anglican Bishop Reverend Otieno Wasonga asked Church followers to study what Wako presents this week adding that the Bomas Draft was the only legitimate document and a product of a review process sanctioned by Kenyans. "Bomas was faithful to the issues Kenyans raised," Wasonga said.

Evangelical Churches in the Rift Valley are rising up to oppose the review process. They have made a crusade against the constitution asking their followers to vote it out at the national referendum. The Rift Valley is expected to be the battleground province which will sway the tide in the November Referendum. In Nakuru, Bishop Mark Kariuki of the Deliverance Church is already telling his followers to vote 'No' at the referendum due to the presence of the Kadhi's courts in the draft.

In the North Rift, key church leaders warned they would mobilise their followers to reject the Draft Constitution if it contains the Kadhi's courts. They also demanded that Wako's draft be faithful to the Bomas Draft or they will reject it.

And in Nairobi, Rev David Oginde of Nairobi Pentecostal Church said the Church would use its networks to educate the masses on the dangers of the new constitution.

Though the leaders of the mainstream churches differ on what the Wako Draft, they agree that careful consideration of the draft must be undertaken before the people vote. This comes despite the President's pre-emptive backing the Wako Draft, stating that he would vote 'Yes'.

Last Sunday however, the government had a taste of things to come when Finance Minister David Mwiraria attended the Full Gospel Churches annual convention for the Northern region at Kinoru Stadium and was told by the church's leaders that they would canvass for a 'No' vote to the Revisions of Bomas.

The Bomas Draft, named after the town in which it was put together, was initially formulated by a 600 strong team - the consituition of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC), appointed in 2000. They were to gauge the views of Kenyan about what they wished to see in their new constitution to replace the now outdated one drawn up in 1963 upon their independance from Britain.

It was found that citizens wanted retrictions on the president - apparently in reaction to the abuse of executive powers under former heads of state Daniel arap Moi and Jomo Kenyatta. Therefore the Bomas Draft transferred much of the power vested in the presidency to a newly-created post of prime minister.

However, the New Wako Draft, put together by recommendations from the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) includes revisions allowing for a powerful head of state and a prime minister with little authority. It is thought to be a result of the ongoing power struggle between the two main wing's of Kenya's ruling political party; the National Alliance of Kenya (NKA) and the Liberal Democratic Part (LDP). Which ever group wins will have greater influence in the overall running of the country since the current President is from the NKA and the new post of Prime Minister is said to have already been promised to the leader of the LDP.

MP's from the LDP have already started a court process to block the publishing of the Wako Draft.