Kenya is on the verge of realising the dream of having a new constitution after the proponents of the proposed new constitution opened a wide margin early on Thursday, in the referendum that was held on Wednesday. By the time of the filing of this story, the supporters of the constitution popularly known as the ‘YES’ team had garnered 69.0% of the total votes cast with 5,247,830 votes, while the opponents also known as the’NO’ had a paltry31.0% by bagging 2,331,807 votes. Although the Independent Interim Electoral Commission insists that the results are only provisional, all indicators point to a landslide victory for the ‘YES’ team that is being led President Mwai kibaki, Prime Miniser Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Meanwhile, the defacto ‘NO’ leader and William Ruto, called a press conference a few hours ago and conceded defeat, calling on Kenyans to accept the results and move on. The draft constitution has been one of the main agenda 4 issues that had to implemented as a way of avoiding a repeat of the december 2007 general election that was followed by the post election
violence. The church and a section of the political leaders have been opposed to the draft over what they termed as clauses that legalise abortion and land issues.

But the passing of the constitution is a confirmation by Kenyans that they have been yearning for institutional and constitutional reforms. The quest for a constitutional despensation has been on-going for over 20 years now.
With the passing of the draft constitution, many proponents of change will have a reason to smile as they embrace a new Kenya that many of their comrades never lived to see. Alot of advocates for change died in the infamous torture chamber under the then president daniel Arp Moi, who has been opposed to the draft constitution to the hilt.So when the results came in at the national tallying centre at the Bomas of Kenya from the polling stations, the now retired Moi reiterated his opposition to the new constitution, saying that he will continue opposing it even after its enactment.

The IIEC is expected to announce the final results before midnight.