Civil society organizations welcomed the extension of the mandate of the National Constitution Review Commission for two more years to give citizens a chance for wider participation in the process.
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization Director Edmond Yakani told CRN that his organization welcomed the extension because it gave the civil society enough time to engage in the Constitution review process.He said when the Constitution review process started the civil society groups worried about the time for the citizens to participate in the review process.
Mr Yakani added that the two years are enough for civil society organizations to fully engage in the Constitution review process.
Zeinab Osman from Women Network said the extension of the Constitution review was very timely because most of the people at the grassroots did not know anything about the Transitional Constitution signed during the independence celebrations.
She added that many people have not even seen a single copy of the Transitional Constitution.
Ms Osman said the civil society will use the extension very well so that the citizens will be able to know what is in the Constitution and make informed decisions to be part and parcel of the permanent Constitution.
Voice for Change Organization Project Coordinator Abila Rueben expressed happiness because the extension gave citizens a chance to participate fully and allowed a thorough work in the Constitution review process.
He added that the extension will keep citizens away from complaining of the limited time for the review.
The National Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill that extended the mandate of the Constitution Review Commission for two years to come up with the permanent Constitution.