20100809
reuters

Nairobi — The new Constitution will be promulgated on the 27th of this month at a public ceremony to be held at Uhuru Park in Nairobi

According to a statement from State House, President Kibaki will promulgate the new law, in "compliance with the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, 2008 and the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Act, 2008."

Majority of Kenyans approved the new law in a referendum last Wednesday, with the 'Yes' side - for those supporting it - garnering 6,092,593 votes (66.9pc), against the 'No' side - for those rejecting it - managing 2,795,059 votes(30.1pc).

President Kibaki, ministers, all Members of Parliament and senior Government officials are expected to take a fresh oath to uphold and protect the new Constitution when it is published.

MPs will be expected to pass at least 49 legislations required to bring into force the new set of laws. From this week, the MPs are expected to start setting up a crucial team to oversee the transition to a new constitution.

Speaker Kenneth Marende on Sunday said Parliament was ready and that he had already commissioned Standing Orders Committee which he chairs to start reviewing procedures of House debate on the new constitution.

Some of the key changes expected in the new law include the setting up of a bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly and Senate, 47 county governments established countrywide to manage local affairs, a Salaries and Remuneration Commission to determine salaries of all public servants and channelling of 15 per cent of all national revenue to counties.

Others include placing the Regular Police and Administration Police under one Inspector-General, appointments of ministers from outside Parliament, dual citizenship, a Supreme Court to hear presidential petitions and review Court of Appeal rulings, guaranteeing women one third of all leadership at national and county levels, and civil service, and an Equalisation Fund to address imbalances in marginalised areas.