Nairobi - Kenyan leaders on Thursday welcomed the adoption of the new constitution, saying big challenges lay ahead in implementing it.
In a television address to the nation, President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said the adoption of a new constitution was going to be a victory for Kenya and for the many people who fought long and hard for a new constitutional dispensation that reflected their hopes and aspirations.
"The successful and peaceful conclusion of this referendum shows that our democratic institutions have come of age. I am particularly pleased at the transparent and efficient manner that the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) conducted the referendum," Kibaki said.
He said the government would announce a date when the new constitution will be promulgated.
The address came as provisional results by IIEC indicate that the country has voted in favour of a new constitution. With more than half the votes counted from the referendum, those backing the "yes" vote have declared victory.
With ballots still being counted, results so far show 70 percent of voters backed the new constitution which is aimed at easing tribal and political tensions that have plagued the country for decades.
Opponents of the draft led by Higher Education Minister William Ruto accepted the result but called for immediate consultations on possible amendments.
Ruto, however, claimed the constitution had not passed by an overwhelming majority and called on government leaders who pushed the draft to meet with its opponents to amend the most contentious issues and bring more Kenyans on board.
To be adopted, the law requires 50 percent plus one vote of the ballot cast nationally and at least 25 percent of the votes in five of Kenya's eight provinces. The "no" camp had failed to garner a quarter of the votes in five provinces.
The vote was part of a deal to end the ethnic violence which tore the country apart after the 2007 elections. More than 1 300 people were killed in those clashes.
Should the electoral commission declare the "yes" vote has passed, which is most likely, Kenyans will get a new bill of rights and greater land reform.
