KENYA: Vote in referendum on new constitution

Record ID: 361650

  • Title: KENYA: Vote in referendum on new constitution
  • Date: 5th August 2010
  • Summary: OTHAYA, KENYA (AUGUST 4, 2010) (REUTERS) FIRST VOTER RECEIVING BALLOT AND WALKING TO VOTING BOOTH TO CAST VOTE BALLOT BOX FIRST VOTER PLACING VOTE IN BALLOT BOX FIRST VOTER GETTING INK PUT ON FINGER FROM IIEC OFFICIAL (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) FIRST VOTER, SAYING: "I have come to vote and I see the station is good, I think it will go well, the organisation is looking good
  • Embargoed: 20th August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6YD60PA1VOJ2QTBLF19O91GBA
  • Story Text: Kenyans began voting in a referendum on a new constitution on Wednesday (August 4), a poll seen as a test of democracy after disputed 2007 elections and one that could reshape the politics of east Africa's largest economy.
    The constitutional changes are seen as important to avoid a repeat of the post-election tribal bloodshed in early 2008 that killed 1,300 people and took the country of about 40 million people to the brink of anarchy.
    Most Kenyans are expected to vote in favour, according to surveys. If the draft law fails, Kenya would revert to the current constitution bequeathed by former colonial power Britain.
    The new law addresses the corruption, political patronage, land grabbing and tribalism which have plagued Kenya since it won independence in 1963. It proposes greater checks on presidential powers, more devolution to grassroots administrations and increases civil liberties.
    A previous attempt to change the constitution through a referendum in 2005 failed.
    Kenyan shares rallied strongly for the fifth straight session on Tuesday, driven by expectations the law will be adopted, while the shilling <KES=> rose against the dollar.
    As voting kicked off at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT), at a polling station in Othaya, the first voter said she was hopeful about the outcome.
    "I have come to vote and I see the station is good, I think it will go well, the organisation is looking good, the security is tight, we thank god for everything," she said after casting her ballot at the polling station.
    To be adopted, the law requires a majority of 50 percent plus one vote of the ballot cast nationally and at least 25 percent of the votes in five of Kenya's eight provinces.
    The country's electoral authority said on Tuesday the process would be more transparent than the 2007 election, when allegations the poll was rigged in favour of President Mwai Kibaki led to the bloodletting.
    Kibaki assured the country that security had been strengthened at polling stations to prevent any violence.
    Some 12.5 million people have registered to vote.
    Financial and stock markets will be closed on voting day. Traders and analysts say markets would take great confidence from its peaceful passage into law.
    The new charter was a key provision in the power-sharing deal struck between then rivals Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to end the violence that followed the election in 2007.
    Odinga's former ally, William Ruto, a cabinet minister based in the Rift Valley, is spearheading the "No" campaigners, who are angry with the clauses related to land ownership.
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