Phil in Paris
12-13-2004, 09:55 PM
Last Updated: Sunday, 12 December, 2004, 16:41 GMT
Kenya's president has announced the release of nearly 7,000 prisoners, to mark the 41st anniversary of the country's independence from the UK.
At a ceremony in Nairobi, Mwai Kibaki said that the list includes prisoners convicted of petty offences or serving sentences of less than six months.
He also raised the contentious issue of a new constitution.
President Kibaki came to power two years ago, pledging to fight corruption and tackle Kenya's economic decline.
Constitution row
"I am announcing today the release of 6,946 prisoners," Mr Kibaki told thousands of Kenyans at the ceremony in the country's capital.
"I am proud to be a Kenyan. Let us all be proud of who we are and put our country first for our common good," Mr Kibaki added.
On the issue of a new constitution, he said parliament would provide "a clear road map" for completion.
"I have no doubt that consensus will be achieved in parliament after which the draft constitution will be presented to the Kenyan people to pass their verdict through a referendum," he added.
Mr Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition came to power on a pledge for constitutional change.
Delegates have spent months drafting a new constitution, but this has not yet been implemented.
In July, there was rioting in Nairobi and Kisumu after a deadline was missed, in which one person was killed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4090125.stm
Kenya's president has announced the release of nearly 7,000 prisoners, to mark the 41st anniversary of the country's independence from the UK.
At a ceremony in Nairobi, Mwai Kibaki said that the list includes prisoners convicted of petty offences or serving sentences of less than six months.
He also raised the contentious issue of a new constitution.
President Kibaki came to power two years ago, pledging to fight corruption and tackle Kenya's economic decline.
Constitution row
"I am announcing today the release of 6,946 prisoners," Mr Kibaki told thousands of Kenyans at the ceremony in the country's capital.
"I am proud to be a Kenyan. Let us all be proud of who we are and put our country first for our common good," Mr Kibaki added.
On the issue of a new constitution, he said parliament would provide "a clear road map" for completion.
"I have no doubt that consensus will be achieved in parliament after which the draft constitution will be presented to the Kenyan people to pass their verdict through a referendum," he added.
Mr Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition came to power on a pledge for constitutional change.
Delegates have spent months drafting a new constitution, but this has not yet been implemented.
In July, there was rioting in Nairobi and Kisumu after a deadline was missed, in which one person was killed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4090125.stm