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Minority
Rights Activists Reject Kenya's Proposed Constitution
By William
Eagle, Washington,DC
09 September
2005
listen to interview with Korrir
Singoei (MP3 Audio - 2,15 MB)
In Kenya, a group representing the
interests of minorities and indigenous peoples has come out
against the draft constitution – which will be accepted or
rejected by voters on November 21st.
The Centre for Minority Rights
and Development in Nairobi
says the proposed constitution does not address issues of
importance to marginalized groups, such as affirmative action or
land rights.
Korrir Singoei is the
executive director of the centre. He tells English to Africa
reporter William Eagle that the proposed constitution makes no
reference to pastoralists and to groups that have had problems
owning land, or reclaiming rights to traditional lands. These
include the Turkana, Endorois and Ogiek ethnic groups. Supporters
of the draft constitution say it ensures minority empowerment in
part by decentralizing government decision making to local and
regional levels, making it easier for marginalized groups to
exercise power over their own districts. They also say the
document allows groups to take any complaints over land to a
national land commission. But Mr. Singoei says that under the
proposed constitution, public land management, including game
reserves in areas inhabited by minorities, will be managed by the
federal government.
Link: http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2005-09-09-voa43.cfm
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