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Lobbies want
House to hold fresh talks on proposed law
Story by NATION Correspondents
Publication Date: 9/17/2005
Three lobby groups want Parliament
to reconvene and examine afresh the contentious clauses in the
proposed Constitution.
The Parents Caucus, Pro-Life and
Heart Beat Kenya have requested for a meeting with the Kenya
Episcopal Conference to lobby Parliament to reconvene.
Groups coordinators Maximilia
Muninzwa, Margaret Muchau, Jane Mukuha and Agatha Wangeci say if
the proposed law is passed, it would not represent true family
values.
"We have to do something
quickly, as we fear that abortion would be legalised, family
values seriously eroded and the sanctity of human life not
respected," Ms Wangeci said.
"The bishops should not have
taken the stand they took. Abortion is being legalised through the
back door. I share the sentiments made by my sisters," Ms
Muninzwa said.
Some of the Catholic Justice and
Peace Commission members had earlier raised their concerns on the
proposed law. They asked the bishops, as shepherds of the church,
to lead the way.
Calls for the suspension of the
November referendum on the proposed law intensified yesterday,
with teachers in Nyamira District asking President Kibaki to
postpone the vote.
The Nyamira Kenya National Union of
Teachers branch executive secretary Richard Ngoge Kibagendi said
debate on the proposed Constitution had divided the country.
"It is high time the President
suspended the exercise until the disputed sections are ironed
out," Mr Kibagendi said.
At the same time, civic leaders in
Kisii District demanded an urgent meeting with their MPs to
discuss the proposed new Constitution.
Union officials, who included Knut
branch chairman Charles Ombui and treasurer Victor Nyangaya
claimed that the proposed law was inconsistent on educational
issues.
They said: "We can't afford to
have teachers employed by district governments..."
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