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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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