Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top

Kenya

Kenya military ready for new law event

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 22 -All the disciplined forces in the country are set for the big day on Friday when the new constitution is scheduled to be promulgated

Military Chief Jeremiah Kianga has told journalists they will mount one of the biggest parades ever seen in the country in the recent years.

“It will only be comparable to what was mounted on December 12th, 1964, nothing less,” the Chief of General Staff said.

And he added that “the day will not only be special for Kenyans but to the history of the military department as well.”
 
A joint parade of the military, police, Administration Police, National Youth Service as well as officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service have been doing rehearsals at the Uhuru Park grounds ahead of Friday’s big event when President Mwai Kibaki is scheduled to promulgate the new law.

“We will be making history and we have an important role to play. We will have joint parades,” he said on Sunday when he inspected the rehearsals by members of the disciplined forces.

“You have the opportunity to make history, the only other generation that had this opportunity was the one that was there in 1964, and you must make good use of your opportunity” General Kianga told the joint forces.

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and Administration Police commandant Kinuthia Mbugua were present at the rehearsals.

National Anthem

 

On the day the new constitution will be promulgated, the joint security forces mounting a parade will be required to sing a national anthem.

“This is very symbolic and that is why all of you are required to memorize all the verses, you will be required to sing them on that day,” he told the officers.

“By singing the National Anthem, we will be displaying a firm commitment of a better Kenya apart from just mounting parades here,” the CGS said.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

And added “It will be a very special day for us.”
 
Therefore, he said “Whenever you will be, be it in the tanks, in the parade, aeroplanes or elsewhere, sing the national anthem knowing that all the words in it have a meaning for all of us.”

On Sunday, the officers rehearsed in aeroplanes, armoured tanks and vehicles which they will use to display their show of mighty on the day the President will promulgate the new law that was overwhelmingly voted for during the August 4, national referendum.

But even as the military and other members of the disciplined forces went on with their preparations, it remained unclear if the scheduled date of the promulgation will be affected by a court case filed on Friday by two voters who are challenging results of the referendum and the manner in which the entire exercise was conducted.

Mary Ariviza and Okotch Mondoh moved  to the Interim Independent Constitutional Dispute Resolution Court on Friday seeking a recount and scrutiny of all votes cast during the referendum.

They also want an independent audit of the software that was used to transmit and tally the results claiming they may have been interfered with.

Ms Ariviza and Mr Mondoh claim that the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) flouted the law governing the referendum campaigns by failing to restrain the Yes proponents from using state resources, among other complains.

According to the law, the court must first dispose off such a case before the Interim Independent Electoral Commission can gazette the final results which would allow for the promulgation of the Constitution.

“If a petition is made under section 39 challenging the conduct or result of the referendum within the time limit for making petitions, the result of the referendum shall not be final until all such petitions are finally disposed of,” the Constitution of Kenya Review Act 2008 states.

NAIROBI

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News