Wednesday, November 23, 2005
HALLELUIAH AND KUDOS TO AFRICA !!!! I see by the latest news headlines: KENYANS have voted to reject a proposed new constitution, dealing an embarrassing blow to President Mwai Kibaki and threatening to break up his coalition Government.
I did not believe this outcome was possible. Kibaki was elected to modify the constitution in a way that reduced presidential power. But when the Kenyan politicians finished modifying the modifications, the result would have essentially given the president UNLIMITED power. All the force of the incumbent government - except for seven legislators who defected - was put behind the campaign to support the modified revisions. That it failed is phenomenal - this bucks all the trends toward ever increasing presidential power that seem so pervasive throughout Africa - in effect, creating democratic dictators.
It raises HOPE!
I did not believe this outcome was possible. Kibaki was elected to modify the constitution in a way that reduced presidential power. But when the Kenyan politicians finished modifying the modifications, the result would have essentially given the president UNLIMITED power. All the force of the incumbent government - except for seven legislators who defected - was put behind the campaign to support the modified revisions. That it failed is phenomenal - this bucks all the trends toward ever increasing presidential power that seem so pervasive throughout Africa - in effect, creating democratic dictators.
It raises HOPE!
