It's show of might as ecstatic Kenya ushers in new era

At exactly 10.26am, President Kibaki put pen to paper, effectively giving force to the new constitution and forever changing the country's political and governance landscape.

A few minutes later after the document bearing the brand new set of laws had been imprinted with the seal of the republic, the historic occasion was crowned by a 21-gun salute by our gallant military.

Kenya exploded with joy with the promise of a better tomorrow, as millions across our great land reacted to the ceremony at the historic Uhuru Park grounds, which has acted host to the country’s defining moments since Independence in 1963.

Billed as the showstopper, the spectacular ceremony — complete with military parade and hardware display — was crowned by the speeches of the Big Three, President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Included on the guest list of the region’s economic powerhouse were five heads of state, hundreds of foreign dignitaries, the Government’s top cream, executives and hundreds of thousands of Kenyans who jammed Uhuru Park Grounds as early as 3am.

Decreeing that the new Constitution had come into effect, and therefore effectively replacing the Independence Constitution, an upbeat President Kibaki exuded confidence and hope of a better Kenya.

"I have today, as President of this great Republic, appended my signature on Kenya’s New Constitution, as an affirmation of the endorsement of the basic law of the land. I thank the Almighty God for guiding us through the peaceful referendum and for enabling us to witness this historic moment," said Kibaki.

The new Constitution was ratified by a majority of Kenyans at the August 4 referendum, bringing to a close decades of a frustrating crusade for reforms in the country.

Beaming with joy, the President received the instruments of promulgation from Attorney-General Amos Wako, before loudly proclaiming and signing the new laws.

A government seal was then affixed on the new constitution, to the applause of the thousands of Kenyans that enjoyed very bit of the solemn occasion.

And in the spirit of the new constitution, choirs and music groups representing all the 47 counties created in the new Constitution entertained guests.

It was a befitting way to usher in the new constitution, which claws away at the imperial presidency, establishes a two-chamber Legislative Assembly and devolves power to 47 county governments, marking a remarkable ending to the wo-decade old search for the new constitutional dispensation.

President Kibaki declared that Kenya now prides itself as one among a few nations in the world that had successfully replaced their constitutions during peacetime, a fete that restores the country’s standing in the international community battered by 2008 post-election violence.

Former UN Secretary-General Koffi Annan and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa — both of whom mediated a political settlement between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga when the country spun into violent onvulsions following the bungled 2007 presidential elections pitting the two, graced the occasion.

THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND

The countdown to the birth of the Second Republic began at 10.15am when AG Wako presented the President with the instruments of promulgation, including six copies of the new Constitution, bound in red and green hard covers.

President Kibaki then read an eight-minute statement spelling out resolutions by the people of Kenya in their exercise of the sovereign right to replace the constitution, before thundering the much-waited declaration which was greeted by deafening cheers:

"…Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the Constitution, I Mwai Kibaki, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya, declare that the Constitution set out in the schedule shall be the new constitution of Kenya with effect from today, August 27, 2010".

The President then signed the instruments of promulgation, six copies of the Constitution, with one symbolically affixed with the public seal to stamp its authority.

One of the copies will replace the repealed Independent constitution bearing the signature of the Queen of England stored at Parliament Buildings. The one bearing the public seal will be in the custody of the Head of the Public Service.

President Kibaki lifted the document and displayed it to the audience, signifying the new law was now in State custody, as the military band played the fanfare.

At 10.31am, the thunder of the 21-gun salute, the utmost honour in military circles, roared as a jumbo flag was simultaneously hoisted on a 30-metre pole to the tunes of the three-stanzas of the Thick smoke from the cannons engulfed the skies as the frenzied crowd cheered on.

President Kibaki took the oath of allegiance to the new Constitution and another pledging due execution of his office. Chief Justice Evans Gicheru, who had been sworn-in earlier by the Registrar of the High Court, administered the oath.

UNITY OF PURPOSE

Prime Minister Raila and Vice-President Kalonzo then took their respective sets of oaths, in an oathing ceremony lasting 16 minutes.

Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Sheikh Abeid Karume (Zanzibar), Ahmed Abdallah (Comoros Island) and Sudan’s Omar Bashir witnessed the ceremony. Retired President Moi, First Lady Lucy Kibaki and ministers watched the events.

Kibaki said the Grand Coalition Government had the "unity of purpose" to fully implement the Constitution by passing the requisite 49 legislations.

Prime Minister Raila said no one had thought the bitter experiences of post-election violence would give way to the birth of national unity presented by a new Constitution that had eluded the country for 40 years.

"We have opened a clean page. On that page we begin a story of an equal and just society," said the PM. He paid tribute to heroes and heroines of the freedom struggle.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said Kenyans had emerged "triumphantly" and the historic day marked the beginning of "a new era in our country."

As the three-hour ceremony wore on, the chilly weather gradually warmed up as sunrays peaked through the clouds perhaps depicting the country’s changing fortunes.

The Kenyan Rugby Sevens team needed all 14 minutes to beat France on Sunday to claim the shield. Earlier on Kenya, who was relegated to the shield competition after losing 19-10 to the USA in the quarter finals of the bowl, beat Russia 21-17.

Captain Fantastic Humphrey Khanyange’s two tries and Dennis Mwanja’s try at the death helped seal victory for Kenya who came from behind against France. The dramatic match ended 24-21 for Kenya who went on to lift the Rugby Sevens Shield

Kenya, falling behind 14-5 at the break, closed the gap through an inspired Dennis Mwanja try in the eighth minute of the second half to give Kenya their first lead of the game and the win.

Kenya finished 3rd in Pool B after narrowly beating Portugal 17-15 and losing 22-17 to Wales before drawing 19-19 with New Zealand on Saturday 22nd. The London Sevens is the penultimate round of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series which continues next weekend in Scotland.

Australia beat South Africa 19-14 in a thrilling final at Twickenham to win the London Sevens and claim a first Cup title on the IRB Sevens World Series since Brisbane in 2002.

A section of the Kenyan fans cheering on their team

Queen’s Speech 2010 unveils coalition plans:

HUGE potential reform of the way Britain's government is elected formed part of the Queen's speech today as she opened Parliament.

The first bills proposed at the state opening by the UK's coalition government included flagship bills on schools, political reform and a promise to scrap ID cards.

From her throne in the House of Lords the Queen announced 22 proposed bills.

She said today: "My Government's legislative programme will be based upon the principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility."

Other plans include part-privatisation of Royal Mail, an annual cap on immigrants coming from outside the EU and a border police force.

Supermarkets will be banned from selling alcohol at a loss and the number of quangos will be slashed.

The move, together with other initiatives to cut bureaucracy, will release savings of £1billion.

A fixed-term Parliament is planned though a Parliamentary Reform Bill would mean the PM could decide the date of the next election if 55 per cent of MPs backed him in a Commons vote.

And crucially, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to hold a referendum on using the alternative vote system at elections - highly prized by his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg.

On education, an Academies Bill will mean schools, including primaries, will be able to claim academy status even if local authorities are not in favour.

Mr Cameron's vow to enable voters to kick out MPs for serious wrongdoing also emerged - 10 per cent of voters could force a by-election simply by signing a petition.

House of Lords reform was sidelined but ID cards will be scrapped under a Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill designed to "roll back the state".

Innocent people whose DNA has been stored by cops will also be given protection.

And there will be greater regulation of CCTV as the Government promised to "strike the right balance between protecting the public, strengthening social cohesion and protecting civil liberties".

Court ruling does not halt the vote:

The August 4 referendum would still be held despite the Constitutional Court ruling, Attorney-General Amos Wako clarified on Tuesday.

At the same time, a fallout over the High Court declaration that the kadhi courts were illegal took another twist on Tuesday when a group of ministers and MPs accused colleagues in the Yes camp of conspiring to defeat the proposed constitution.

At separate press conferences, one group accused the Judiciary of being used by anti-reform groups; while another accused some ministers of secretly working for the No campaign.

Still be held

Mr Wako clarified from London that the Constitutional Court ruling would not affect the referendum.

Cabinet ministers James Orengo, Mohamed Elmi, Najib Balala, Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, assistant ministers Aden Duale, Mohamed Mohamud and MPs Martha Karua and Sofia Abdi described the Constitutional Court ruling as suspect.

Mr Orengo, the lawyer for the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission in the case filed in July 2004, said the timing was suspect because arguments in the case were completed two years ago.

He termed the case abuse of the judicial process.

Mr Balala recalled the illegal insertion of the words “National Security” in the Bill of Rights: “We are disturbed by the actions and behaviour of this axis and anti-reform forces. Who else can penetrate the government systems in this manner and even sneak words into the document?” asked the Tourism minister.

Mr Elmi said the case was not about the kadhi courts but part of a wider plot to derail constitution review, while Ms Karua, a former Justice minister, said “such decisions bring Judiciary into contempt”.

She said the Judiciary has always been anti-reform and wondered how kadhi courts that are enshrined in the constitution can be declared unconstitutional.

Separately, assistant ministers Kabando wa Kabando, Ndiritu Muriithi, Cecily Mbarire and MP Jeremiah Kioni, challenged PNU leaders allegedly wavering between Yes and No to provide leadership and take a position.

They accused some leaders of engaging in doubles peak; projecting the Green campaign during the day while at night priming their “battalions and backyards” for the Red camp.

“We are scanning and screening you even as you claim to be in Yes yet the whole of your battalion and foot soldiers who always accompany you on the platform are not with you at this historical moment,” Mr Kabando told the unnamed leaders who were accused of representing a conservative elite that always favoured the status quo.

And speaking from London, Mr Wako assured Kenyans that they would vote at the referendum on a new constitution despite the High Court declaration.

He said only the Interim Independent Constitutional Disputes Resolution Court had jurisdiction in matters relating to the proposed constitution.

Mr Wako spent most of Tuesday morning at the Kenyan High Commission in London coordinating an appeal against the verdict by three judges that has called the fate of the August 4 referendum into question.

Be voted for

Retention of the kadhi courts in the new constitution to be voted for at the referendum is one of the contentious issues that has seen some Christian leaders rise up to mobilise a No vote.

Mr Wako also took issue with the timing of the verdict

Election joy for Kenyans in East London,UK.

A Kenyan lady has worn a Council seat in Parsloe Ward in Barking and Dagenham, London in the just concluded UK election on 6th may 2010.

Miss Elizabeth Kang'ethe who worn on a Labour ticket was seen been conguratulated by the area member of parliament Margret Hodge who was also re-elected on a Labour ticket.

This is to show, the sky is the limit for those who want to follow their dreams in this great country. Miss Kang'ethe is a role model to other Kenyans in diaspora who has someone to look upon.

The BNP was wiped out from the map of Barking and Dagenham which they were hoping to capitalise their gains after wining twelve Council seat in the last general election.

Finally Ocampo in Kenya.

I.C.C prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has arrived in Nairobi to start investgation to the violence which followed after the disputed 2007 general election between President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The prosecutor has assurred all the parties a fair and just hearing to both the victims and perpetrators of the violence. He has assured Kenyans he is determined to end impunity in Kenya.