ANALYSIS-Kenya not out of woods despite constitution vote

Fri Aug 13, 2010 11:15am GMT

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* MPs in spotlight over implementing new law

* Political horse-trading may delay constitution

* Delays could see Kenya lose political good will

By James Macharia

NAIROBI, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Kenya's long-awaited new constitution must now be brought into force by parliament, but the signs are this will be anything but a smooth transition.

The next step for the charter after a resounding "Yes" vote in a referendum last week will be its promulgation by President Mwai Kibaki on Aug. 27, followed by a lengthy process of implementation that could take years.

The law, which Kenyans have wanted for over 20 years, aims to check presidential powers and curb the corruption, political patronage, land-grabbing and tribalism which have plagued east Africa's biggest economy since independence in 1963.

Foreign investors and governments -- including U.S. President Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan -- hailed last week's vote but Kenya risks losing international goodwill, and funding, if it botches the law's implementation. Continued...

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