MOMBASA, Jan 1 – President Mwai Kibaki led the nation on Thursday in ushering in 2010 exuding confidence that Kenya would achieve a new constitution during the year.
In his New Year address to the country at State House Mombasa, the Head of State said Kenya was at the threshold of a new constitutional dispensation in the New Year.
"The Committee of Experts on the Constitution review has now received your views after publication of the draft constitution. They must now carefully and prudently harmonise these views," he said.
He said the country had a unique opportunity to transform itself through the new document which should not be missed.
"Kenyans expect that the final product will be a unifying document that reflects the will of a majority of the people," President Kibaki said.
He also said his government would step up the implementation of projects aimed at stimulating the economy.
"As we enter the New Year, we must continue the path we have embarked on, in getting long term interventions that will guarantee food security and reduce reliance on rain fed agriculture," President Kibaki said.
"As we are aware, the year just ended was one of the most challenging in recent history. During the year, we faced an economic slowdown, high fuel and food prices as well as a prolonged drought which severely threatened the livelihood of millions of our people."
President Kibaki also announced that he had signed the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Bill that was passed by Parliament in December last year.
The new law is aimed at preventing the concealment of large profits from drug trafficking and other organised crime.
The law will establish a Financial Reporting Centre to assist in the identification of the proceeds of crime.
"The new law will provide for the offense of money laundering and introduce measures to provide for identification, tracing and freezing and seizure of proceeds of crime," President Kibaki said.
An Asset Recovery Agency will be charged with tracing and recovering ill-gotten assets.
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