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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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