20100409
AFRICA NEWS

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya attempts to convince church leaders to abandon their stand to shoot down the draft constitution hit a snag after a six-hour meeting at the presidency. The churches are against a portion that legalizes abortion.
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The National Council of Churches of Kenya threatened to mobilize voters to reject the draft constitution in the forthcoming referendum, after the Kenyan parliament failed to delete a clause that legalized abortion and the inclusion of the Kadhis court - a move the churches see as giving Islam supremacy over them.

In order to resolve the impasse it was agreed that a sub-committee involving church leaders and the government officials should be put in place to advance the talks. Another meeting is scheduled for next week to review the situation.

AfricaNews reporter said Kenya’s long search for a new constitution since independence may hit a ditch if the influential church leaders succeed in their protest.

Meanwhile, about 20 legislators led by Agriculture Minister William Ruto have said they will incite Kenyans to reject the draft document. The leaders mainly from the Rift Valley province said the draft constitution does not embody the wishes of the Kenya people.

The Attorney General Amos Wako is making editorial corrections in the draft constitution before it goes to the public for a referendum.