On Kenya’s constitution reform vote and lessons for Nigeria
By NigeriaPlus August 11, 2010
A supporter of changing the Kenyan constitution at a pro-constitution reform rally prior to the vote
Kenya’s new constitution, written to address a flawed system that has exacerbated ethnic rifts, passed overwhelmingly. With the new constitution , Kenyan politicians are now talking excitedly about their country’s golden future.
Kenyan’s have got reason to be hopeful. the new Constitution and the remarkably peaceful way in which the referendum was conducted Wednesday was a much-needed boost of self-confidence for the country.
In stark contrast to the last election, in 2007, which erupted in ethnically fueled tumult that claimed more than 1,000 lives, this vote showed that Kenya can run a clean election without a violent aftermath, that the losers can graciously accept defeat, that their supporters can move on peacefully and that the police and security forces can be deployed to maintain stability throughout the country.
Nigeria, a country of 150 million people and over 250 ethnic groups continues to be plagued by ethnic and religious conflicts. Many constituent parts of the federal republic are not entirely satisfied with the state of the Nigerian union and talks of a sovereign national conference to map out the conditions for a better union have been systematically ignored.
What lessons has Nigeria to learn from the Kenyan example? We posed the question to some of NigeriaPlus’ contributors.
John Ukah
Ghana has been described as an outpost of democracy and civil society following their celebrated peaceful elections. This speaks volumes on the need for credible elections as the most acceptable means of changing leadership. President Barrack Obama of the United States of America, hinged his decision to visit Ghana on the critical role that sound governance plays in promoting lasting development. Kenya appears to have taken similar strides in their match towards credible polls. Kenya’s new constitution was the final document resulting from a referendum approved by a 67% margin. The last general election in Nigeria, as acknowledged by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was a farce. Candidates were imposed on the populace and they won by any means necessary. Incidents of ballot ball snatching and stuffing, intimidation, multiple voting and other electoral malpractices held sway. There were peculiar areas where no elections held but selected candidates won with landslide victories. This necessitated the setting up of a 22-member Electoral Reform Panel, by Umaru Musa Yar’Adua with the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, as Chairman. The report of the panel was submitted and hailed as the road map towards credible polls. Unlike Kenya, that report which received the approval of the Nigerian people is now gathering dust in the archives of history – largely unimplemented.
Mr. John Ukah is an author, banker and political commentator. He resides in Lagos, Nigeria.
Jide Afolabi
I am reluctant to draw parallels between Kenya and Nigeria for the reason that I believe that Kenya is a much more mature political system: they have experienced only one, abortive coup, unusual for an African country; they understand the value of political stability (only three presidents since independence in 1964) and compromise has been used successfully to deal with the egos of the political class (the Kibaki and Odinga crisis of 2008). More importantly, the importance of social and political inclusion has been underscored with this constitutional reform process which encouraged Kenyans to express their desires, ambitions and expectations for their country. It is interesting that the feedback from this process has not been in terms of a desire for the country to be dismembered or reconfigured along ethnic or religious lines, as has been the suggestion for the Nigerian situation. Rather constitutional reform focused on aspects of government structure, governance and sovereignty. Kenyans have successfully molded their country into an entity they are more excited to be part of, to belong to. Nigeria, though older in chronological terms than Kenya, can take this lesson from Kenya: democracy is not a gift but a right and does not exist if everyone does not have a say in it or share a sense of collective ownership of the end product.
Jide Afolabi is a political commentator who lives in Dublin, Ireland.
I am happy and excited for the people of Kenya and the hope that referendum brings. Nigerians surely deserve better. We need a vibrant and open debate about the nature of our continued existence, as well as several constitutional flaws which serve to promote injustice. In contrast to Kenya however, I do not see this happening in Nigeria. At least not the in the near future. The powers that be, who benefit from the status quo have a very strong grip on the nation's jugular and will not let go without a revolt by the oppressed people.