President Kibaki (second left) lifts up Kenya's new Constitution soon after promulgating it at Uhuru Park, Nairobi August 27, 2010. The United States has urged Kenyans to embrace ongoing reforms and to fully participate in the implementation process ahead of the next elections September 24, 2012

The United States has urged Kenyans to embrace ongoing reforms and to fully participate in the implementation process ahead of the next elections.

The US congratulated Kenya for passing a new Constitution, instituting judicial reforms, creating the Transition Authority and other independent institutions.

US Conflict and Stabilisation Operations Assistant Secretary Rick Barton pledged his country’s support to see the reforms become a reality when he paid a courtesy call to the Transition Authority at the Kenya International Conference Centre, Nairobi Monday.



“Clearly, we know from our own experience that any progress of this kind really requires the people to be fully engaged to be able to have ownership of these ideas,” said Mr Barton.

Mr Barton said the US was ready to listen and dialogue with Kenya on the “wonderful ideas” of reforms.



“We are encouraging the Kenyan people to do everything they can to ensure that the Authority oversees the transfer of central government functions and institutions to the county level.

“We believe this challenge of devolution is a very serious one and central to progress in Kenya and I hope this sign of friendship on our part will be seen by the people as encouragement. We are happy to be able to be part of it in offering any encouragement that we possibly can,” said the ambassador.

Mobilise resources

The Authority’s chairman Kinuthia wa Mwangi thanked the US for its support

He said that his team was dedicated to mobilising resources for the implementation of the Transition Authority Program and capacity development for county governments.
“We are also expected to undertake critical civic education for the masses of Kenya who appear to have not quite understood the system of devolution so we have a major task between now and the time of elections to make Kenyans understand devolution and how they fit in that system,” said Mr Mwangi.
The Transition Authority, which is expected to carry out an audit of all government and public entities and draw budgets for the 47 counties, will submit a progress report to the President, Parliament, the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) and the Commission on Revenue Allocation.
He said that the success of the Authority depended heavily on Kenyans’ participation and cooperation.
“Transition is an activity concerning every Kenyan and it involves change of Kenyans mindsets and we must prepare Kenyans to accept a new system of governance that they are have not been used to,” he said.
The Authority stressed the importance of the CIC, the CRA, and other independent commissions and authorities.
“All these institutions are supposed to help Kenyans to do things in the right way and at the right time,” he said.

Mr Barton will also visit Mombasa, Kisumu and other towns to assess the country’s preparedness for the next General Election due on March 4, 2013.


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