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'Yes' Vote Closer to Victory in Kenya Referendum

   VOA News 05 August 2010
   Kenyans  queue  in numbers at a poling station in the Rift Valley town
   of Nakuru, Kenya, 04 Aug 2010

Photo: AP

   Kenyans  queue  in numbers at a poling station in the Rift Valley town
   of Nakuru, Kenya, 04 Aug 2010

   Partial  results  from Kenya's referendum show most voters support the
   country's proposed new constitution.
   Final  results  from  the  peaceful vote are expected later Thursday.Â
   Early  partial  results  showed  4.1  million  Kenyans  voted  for the
   constitution, and 2 million voted against it.
   Opinion polls before the referendum showed a clear majority of Kenyans
   support  the draft, which is backed by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime
   Minister Raila Odinga.
   The  new constitution is aimed at easing tribal and political tensions
   that have plagued the country for years.
   The current system gives great power to the executive branch - fueling
   charges  that  presidents  direct  government jobs and money mainly to
   their own tribe.
   The  new  constitution  would  curb  the  president's  authority, give
   greater  powers  to  local  governments,  and  limit the Cabinet to 22
   members.
   It  would  also  eliminate the post of prime minister.  That post was
   created  as  part  of  a Kibaki-Odinga power-sharing deal.  A dispute
   over  which  man  won  Kenya's 2007 presidential vote sparked weeks of
   violence that killed 1,300 people.
   Supporters  of  the  draft  say  it  would  reduce corruption, address
   long-standing  injustices,  and  prevent future violence.  The United
   States has indicated its support, saying it would strengthen democracy
   in Kenya.
   The  opposition camp, led by churches, criticizes the draft's language
   on abortion and Islamic courts. Â
   Under  the  new constitution, abortions would be legal if the mother's
   health  is at risk.  Islamic courts would also be recognized as a way
   to  resolve  civil  matters  between  Muslims, though the courts would
   remain subordinate to the government legal system.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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