News

Monday May 3, 2010


Negotiations on Pro-Abort Kenyan Constitution Break Down

By Peter J. Smith

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Negotiations have finally broken down between Kenya’s Christian leaders and the government over a proposed draft-constitution, which would enshrine a right to abortion and establish Islamic courts within the African nation’s legal structure.

The leaders of Kenya’s National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), the Anglican Church of Kenya, the Catholic Church, and Evangelicals have recognized that the country needs a reformed constitution, but they say that they will vigorously oppose the adoption of the proposed constitution – a popular referendum is in the works for June or July – so long as the constitution threatens the right to life and establishes the parallel “Kadhi” courts, which they say would undermine religious equity.

“We will instead focus energies on educating the people of Kenya on the meaning of the cardinal issues and on campaigning for the rejection of the draft,” said Rev. Peter Karanja, an Anglican priest and general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, at a Nairobi press conference.

Christian leaders pulled out of talks with the government on April 28 after negotiations went sour, saying they could not compromise on fundamental issues and that the government had not made a good faith effort to help resolve their concerns. The cabinet team selected by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga told church leaders the day before that they would not rewrite the draft constitution and only held out the promise that their problems could be ironed out through the legislative process – a guarantee Christian leaders found unreassuring.

A statement from the Anglican Church in Kenya (ACK) stated, “The document in itself is not the solution to Kenya’s myriad problems neither will its adoption automatically change Kenya for the better. We therefore say ‘no’ to the proposed constitution as it is unless amendments are effected before the referendum.”

Abortion is currently illegal in Kenya, except in the case where a doctor views abortion as necessary to save the life of the mother.

However, the new draft constitution would allow abortion for the sake of the “health” of the mother – a key descriptor which pro-life Kenyan and international leaders say will open the way for abortion on demand.

The section in question states that every person has the right to life, and that life begins at conception. However, it then goes on to say, “Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.”

A poll conducted March 21-26, 2010 by the global research company Synovate showed that an overwhelming majority of Kenyans want to preserve the nation’s status quo on abortion, and are vigorously opposed to an expansion of abortion.

The sample of 2003 Kenyan respondents showed 77 percent believe that life begins at conception. Sixty-nine percent oppose the legalization of abortion (only nine percent actually favor legalization) and 70 percent say they would only have abortion legal if it were necessary to save the mother’s life.

The Kenya Broadcasting Company reports that retired Anglican archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi is warning that the country needs to fully evaluate the constitution before making a decision.

Nzimbi’s concern appears to be justified: as of March Synovate’s poll revealed that while a majority of Kenyans supported the Constitution, 43 percent know “very little,” and 24 percent know “nothing” about it. Only 6 percent said they knew “a great deal” and 26 percent said they knew “something/some of it.”

“There is need for truth to prevail in the country in this time when Kenyans are at crossroads over the constitutional dispensation,” said Nzimbi. “Kenyans needed to be fully educated on the constitution because it will affect their lives but they are now being influenced without hindsight of the contents.”

Read the Kenyan draft constitution here.