Gov't rejects opposition demands for early elections

The Kenyan government has refused to accept demands for early elections following the rejection in a national referendum of a proposed new constitution which was supported by President Mwai Kibaki and his government. "There is no intention whatsoever to call early elections because there is no reason for such an action," Vice President Moody Awori told a news conference in the capital, Nairobi, on Sunday. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a group led by opposition politicians and seven members of Kibaki's recently dissolved cabinet and which spearheaded a campaign to have the draft constitution rejected, had demanded that the president call snap elections. The movement argued that the government had lost its mandate after the draft constitution it favoured was rejected by the electorate on 21 November. Awori also announced a ban on rallies organised by the ODM to celebrate its referendum victory. Government sources said the meetings were intended as forums to pressure the government to call mid-term polls. "The government considers calls for nationwide rallies inappropriate and a threat to national security," said Awori. A post-referendum rally held in the capital, Nairobi, on 26 November was attended by a huge and enthusiastic crowd. Kibaki sacked his entire cabinet two days after the proposed constitution was rejected in the plebiscite. He promised to reconstitute his government within two weeks. The president als prorogued parliament with effect from 25 November. The debate over the new charter split Kibaki's administration, with some ministers spearheading a vociferous campaign against it. Some 3.5 million people voted against the draft constitution, compared with 2.5 million in favour. When Kibaki’s administration came to power at the beginning of 2003, it pledged to give Kenyans a more democratic constitution within the first 100 days of its term. Internal wrangling within the lose alliance of the parties that make up the governing National Rainbow Coalition, however, thwarted efforts to forge a consensus on several contentious issues in the draft constitution. The ministers who opposed the proposed basic law argued that the draft maintained a presidency with overriding powers. They said Kenyans started agitating for a new constitution more than 15 years ago to ensure no president misused his powers to undermine democracy and weaken the economy. Supporters of the draft constitution, on the other hand, maintained that presidential powers had been significantly curtailed in the proposed basic law. They pointed out, for example, that under the new document all presidential appointments would be vetted by parliament and that the president was required to share executive power with a prime minister, various constitutional commissions and proposed district governments. The rejection of the proposed constitution was widely seen as a significant blow to Kibaki and a boost for Roads and Public Works Minister Raila Odinga, the de facto leader of the ministers who waged an unrelenting campaign against the document.