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The members of the Committee of experts on Constitutional Review held a press conference on 20th April 2010 and reiterated that, CoE was the only organization allowed by the Constitutional Review Act 2008 to coordinate civic education ahead of the referendum.
Chairman Nzamba Kitonga said information on the proposed constitution, particularly the clauses on Land, abortion, Kadhis’s court and devolution was being distorted. Mr Kitonga said the draft does not provide for an imperial president as claimed by some politicians.
“The truth is an independent Judiciary and a senate that can impeach the president,” he said.
The experts said they were alarmed by emails being circulated on Kadhis courts. Mr Kitonga said some of them claimed that the courts had been retained because he was a muslim.
“I am a Christian. But I take the view that it is not my pastor’s duty to teach me how to vote,” Mr Kitonga said.
The Experts said they had not made changes to the clauses on abortion, land, the Kadhi’s courts and the presidential system after the PSC agreed on them in Naivasha.
“We know that many self-proclaimed civic educators have descended on the landscape. Their mission is purportedly to educate the masses but in reality, it is to spread negative propaganda and distorted views,” Mr Kitonga said.
The official said his team can only roll out the civic education programme after the Attorney General Amos Wako has published the proposed constitution. Mr Wako is supposed to publish the document by May 5 2010.
The Constitution of Kenya Review Act says that after the draft is published the experts will engage non-state actors to conduct civic education for 30 days.
Mr Kitonga announced that the committee has deployed 15 provincial coordinators and hired 210 constituency coordinators.
The Press briefing was attended by committee members Atsango Chesoni (The vice Chair), Njoki Ndung’u, Bobby Mkangi, Otiende Amolo, and CoE Director Ekuru Aukot
Dr Aukot said: “We have agreed that it is the CoE that will standardize all civic education materials.”
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