**The Kenyan parliament has approved a draft constitution, after nearly 20 years of acrimonious debate.**The new constitution goes to the Kenyan people in a national referendum later this year.
The document provides for greater checks on presidential powers and more regional devolution.
As part of a power-sharing deal to end deadly riots following elections in December 2007, it was agreed that a new constitution would be written.
The previous constitution was criticised for concentrating too much power in the hands of the president.
The draft constitution also recommends:
• power be devolved to a senate and a network of local counties
• the president should no longer be able to appoint judges
• MPs appointed to a cabinet position should be obliged to give up their parliamentary seat
President Mwai Kibaki told Bloomberg news agency: “We have gone through a very difficult time and I’m quite sure myself this is the greatest step we have taken so far.”
His power-sharing partner, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, said it was a “historic moment”.
An earlier attempt to amend the constitution failed five years ago.This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.