Experts urge State to facilitate intensive civic education

By KEPHER OTIENO

The Government has been urged to facilitate provision of civic education on the new Constitution.

Experts say majority Kenyans are not aware on the new law, together with the Bill of Rights.

This was among concerns raised at the end of an African Peer Review meeting in Kisumu last week.

The more than 200 delegates at the forum expressed fears majority Kenyans were misinformed on the new laws during the referendum campaigns.

This, it is feared, means many Kenyans cannot actively engage in assessing its implementation.

In the countdown to the referendum, many Kenyans could not distinguish between lies and truth peddled by ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ teams.

Former ambassador Tabitha Seii said enlightened Kenyans should help educate others on the new laws.

“For us to move forward, we must sacrifice time and take advantage of social forums to conduct civil education,” she said.

She said lack of awareness is threatening to erode gains in constitutional reforms.

“We want to see several social forums created to induct people on the contents of the new laws,” said Stephen Obiri of Kisii County.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr Khabele Matsosa, who is UNDP programme advisor, said peer review is a perquisite to policy planning.

Matsosa explained that the mechanism seeks to promote democracy and good governance stemmed from the people choice of proposals on development.

“People should realise that civic education is essential to sustain Africans constitutional democracy,” the African peer review official explained.

The peer review mandate is to ensure policies and practices of participating states conform to the agreed political, economic and corporate governance values.

The peer review serves as a mutually agreed instrument for self-monitoring by the participating members states.

The forum also cited corruption as a key setback to Africa’s gains.

UNDP officials said they plan to provide inclusive, neutral and efficient support on civic education.