Kenyans on Wednesday hailed the passing of laws needed for a power-sharing deal to end a deadly post-election crisis but worried about bitter debates ahead as discussion turned to sharing out posts.
”This was an historic day for Kenya,” the Daily Nation newspaper said in an editorial after Parliament approved two laws creating the posts of prime ministers and two deputies.
This was part of a pact signed last month after President Mwai Kibaki’s disputed re-election triggered riots and ethnic attacks that killed more than 1 000 people and badly dented Kenya’s image as East Africa’s stable trade, transport and tourism hub.
The rare conciliatory mood among the country’s lawmakers elated many Kenyans. But there were few illusions about the difficult days ahead.
”Debate on the new constitution will almost certainly be acrimonious,” the opposition-leaning Standard newspaper said in its editorial.
Legislators turned on Wednesday to debating Kibaki’s speech on March 6 when he opened Parliament. Those discussions had been delayed so the two crucial Bills could be passed quickly.
Behind closed doors, party leaders were thrashing out the contentious topic of how to divide up government appointments.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga is due to take the new role of premier, while his and Kibaki’s parties are both expected to name their choices for deputy prime minister.
Sharing Cabinet posts fairly under the terms of the power-sharing accord could also trigger acrimony.
The new government will then overhaul Kenya’s Constitution, a task that Kibaki failed to achieve during his first term when the public rejected a draft charter at a referendum in 2005.
As well as fixing what critics say is an all-powerful presidency, a new constitution will also have to tackle deep underlying issues of inequality and land, which the dispute over the election laid bare.
”Seeking to right perceived wrongs must not lead to the inflicting of fresh wounds on the body politic, just as actual injustices must not be glossed over as mere perception problems,” the Standard said. — Reuters