The role of the arts is holistically all embracing in addressing the current proposed constitutional debate in Kenya. Its uppermost function in the promotion of the YES VOTE CAMPAIGN is fundamentally informative, educative, entertaining, motivating, interactive and also participatory.
The arts accord vision, perspective and sense of mission in all aspects of human endeavours. In day existence it breathes new life through its creative genius. All arts aspects of arts are integral to the life of the traditional African communities giving worth to individuals and therefore reinforcing their identify. The arts provide a powerful means of healing, education communication expression. From the spiritual to mundane. The arts have profound bearing on all aspects of human life. Life, whose totality is, captured in the new proposed constitution of our nation, the constitution we want.
The constitutions we Kenya’s have yearned for decades. The constitution we want.
The constitution that promotes freedom of expressions, (Bill of rights - Rights and fundamental rights). As artistes, this is the reason why we urge our compatriots to vote YES in the forthcoming referendum in August this vote for change vote for posterity.
Arts, has since time immemorial been related to the sustainability of society in its various manifestation. Once in al life time, the new proposed constitution of Kenya will offer a long lasting life - line of Kenyans in diversity. Arts gives the youths opportunity to interact and thus helps in developing of their social skills - to understand the quite scene of good governance. In nutshell and good and all embracing constitution is what we want.
The YES VOTE wills guarantee continuity and development in diversity. It will offer a beacon of hope from adversity. It is the only path to unity healing and national cohesion.
The YES vote will assure Kenyans of new civil liberties, safeguarding our lives, liberty and property. It will be a great leap from the past iniquities: the rotten cultures of impunity, greed and corruption and tribalism. The new proposed constitution so to speak will also accord Kenyans with rate and ample opportunity to foster individuals assumers talents and human potential in each individual endeavours.
The YES Vote is a ticket to prosperity.
The YES vote will guarantee everyone with affordable quality health care, functional education, social welfare and social services. A new dawn with a promise of rosy things to come. The new constitution will also assure the youth with equal opportunity to actively participate fully in the affairs of our nation and also to partake off and enjoy the fruits of progress guaranteed under the proposed new constitution.
Artistry is very interesting, pleasurable, memorable, vivid and easy to understand a viable vehicle for the prevention of such good governance information on the new constitution to many people.
Lastly, arts will accord vision in the new constitution making in Kenya.
Artistes as opposed to politician see the new constitution beyond the mortal beings and therefore will use artistic genres to enhance the YES vote campaign in an exciting and provocative media.
Prof John Habsen of City University New York asserts that ‘NO’ constitution draft can anticipate all of the social, economic cultural and other changes that are to come. So a new constitution has to live and mature in changing society. In stating guiding principal, no constitution provides all answers on how to implement those principles’. The proposed new constitution provides all answers on how constitution was artistes believe a beacon of hope.
The chapter 4 - Bill of Rights - 40 (5) has the best and art - friendly clause - the promotion of innovation and creativity, particularly the protection of innovation and protection intellectual rights: these are copyright, trade mark and inventions.
Art touches the heart and the mind of the people potential in addressing and in communicating effectively the diverse, pertinent and development issues. This form of medium is not only immediate but also familiar to the grassroots community. It uses an exciting, provocative, stimulating but also proactive medium. It has been used for different purposes ranging from pedagogy, entertainment, criticism to socialization.
The artistes therefore should utilise various genres of arts in addressing the critical issues on why the new proposed constitution should be promoted and supported so that the YES VOTE campaign succeeds. New proposed constitution has elicited support from various quarters. A law scholar, Prof. Yash Pal Ghai - former chairman of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission stated that “the proposed new constitution will address issues of social justice and enhance independence of judiciary among many other provisions that would improve governance and spur development at local level.”
Lastly, I would like to quote Prof Makau Mutua and he states that “the new proposed constitution contains everything and it is the most democratic constitution in the county’s history.” As artistes we should concur with the two legal scholars on the proposed Kenya’s constitution.
As Kenyan artistes we have a cardinal role to play and we must play it now or never. The artistes must “build and strengthen partnership and alliances in the promotion of human rights. Let’s use arts as a beacon of hope in the fight against culture of impurity.”
Arts as a social tool for empowerment should address and bridge governance gaps in Kenya. Lastly arts transcend mortal beings and also parochial vested Political interest. In conclusion in out will play central role arts a beacon of hope constitution making in Kenya.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
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