Parallel processes set up to review constitution

Two parallel processes were set up on Wednesday to review Kenya's
constitution, news organisations reported. Some 89 members of parliament and 21 opposition members set up a select committee to review the "defective" constitution of Kenya review act, the state-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) said. At the same time, a meeting called by the religious community to revive the stalled constitution process also launched its own review, to be spearheaded by the clergy.

The Kenyan constitutional review process - which was passed by parliament after consultations with "stakeholders" including legislators, representatives of religious organisations and civil society - hit a snag when the ruling party KANU rescinded a decision that these representatives would collect views from members of the public. A protracted war of words has gone on for over eight months and the review process is currently
deadlocked, with KANU insisting that it be handled by parliament. Civil society and religious groups, for their part, want a "people-driven" constitution.