Who’s angry with the ‘experts’?

It would have, I suppose, been too much to hope for.

That the Committee of Experts charged with determining options to resolve the so-called “contentious issues” with respect to constitutional reforms would be allowed to proceed with their work unhindered. This is Kenya, after all.

And, in Kenya, nothing that could be simple and straightforward ever is.

And too, this is our Constitution.

Around which no less than two decades of struggles to advance democratic space have revolved.

Two questions must be answered.

First, why are so many seemingly disparate groups unhappy with the CoE?

Second, and more importantly, will their unhappiness, combined, perhaps unwittingly play into the hands of those determined not to enable the fundamental restructuring of power that we need?

As to the first question, let us start with the most vocal of protesters.

A significant section of civil society seems to believe that the CoE has not been consultative enough — and seeks further influence, through representation — to amend the situation.

We selected “experts” on the basis of their “expertise” — in this case, knowledge of constitutional law from both Kenya and elsewhere.

And, on this CoE sit some of Africa’s best in this respect.

They cannot meet physically with every Kenyan with an interest in the process.

Neither can every Kenyan with an interest in the process follow them around to ensure they do their bidding.

Hence the CoE’s decision to ‘consult’ through calls for written submissions on whatever Kenyans considered to be ‘contentious.’