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Kenya Adopts New Constitution in Lavish Ceremony

27 August 2010 23:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Tens of thousands of Kenyans waved flags and cheered as President Mwai Kibaki signed a new constitution into law Friday, ushering in a new government with less presidential power and more authority for local governments, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.

President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and other government leaders were then sworn into office under the new law.

The colorful and jubilant ceremony took place in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park. Dignitaries from around the world attended the event, which included traditional dance, a military parade and a 21-gun salute.

Mr. Kibaki called it "a great day for Kenya," and the most important day since Kenya adopted its independence constitution in 1963. The new constitution replaces that document.

Prime Minister Odinga told the cheering crowd that they were witnessing the "birth of a national unity" that had eluded Kenya for more than 40 years.

Kenyans overwhelmingly approved the new constitution in a referendum vote earlier this month.

Kenya’s executive branch held great power under the previous governmental system, leading to accusations that presidents favored their own tribes for government jobs and money.

The new constitution also limits the Cabinet to 22 members

In addition to reduced presidential powers, the new constitution will abolish the post of prime minister. That post was created in a power-sharing deal between President Kibaki and Mr. Odinga, his opponent in the sharply contested 2007 general election. The agreement ended post-election violence that killed 1,300 people.

Under the new constitution, the prime minister’s position will be phased out after a presidential election in 2012.