The newest semi-presidential country – Kenya

Kenya has joined the list of countries with semi-presidential constitutions. So, with apologies to Turkey, Kenya is now the newest semi-presidential country.

On 18 March the Kenyan parliament met and passed two bills – The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2008, and the National Accord And Reconciliation Bill. Both Bills were passed at the second stage, the committee stage, and the third stage on the same day and in the same sitting of parliament. The Bills were passed unanimously. The president signed them into law on Thursday 20 March.

The texts of the debates are available on-line here and they make very interesting reading, not just from a parochial semi-presidential point of view but also as an insight into Kenyan politics and the peace deal.

However, the new coalition government under prime minister-designate Raila Odinga has yet to be formed. Mr Odinga met President Kibaki today, but the Kenyan Daily Nation reports that when the meeting concluded the two parties were not yet ready to name the members of the new government.

The East Africa Standard reports the findings of a poll that says 90 per cent of people think that the peace deal will last.

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