Morning,Kenya

After two decades of political upheaval and painful progress,Kenya is finally feeling the pulse of a new day. Its swept out the 1963 pre-independence constitution,which inflated presidential powers and long distorted politics with tribal passions and conflict over resource-sharing.

After the bitter factional feud and accusations of a stolen election in 2007,opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki signed a power-sharing agreement,and in 2009 Kenya crafted a draft constitution as part of a whole raft of reforms. Parliament adopted it this April,and put it up for a national vote. The No team included big hitters,and the run-up to the referendum saw escalated violence and hate-speech,as the draft constitution inflamed tensions over land rights,abortion and ethnic sensitivities. However,in the end,almost 70 per cent of citizens endorsed it a decisive blow for stability,and a system of checks and balances. The election was widely lauded for its peacefulness,signalling the peoples quiet determination for change. The president and prime minister will take the oath afresh,and within five years,provincial administration will be restructured in tune with devolved government laid out in the constitution. Itll have to forge new institutions like a supreme court and a senate,cleanse its judicial system,and its parliament will have to pass 49 new laws under a timetable.

Momentous as this referendum was,this next stage is just as crucial and more delicate. Kenya, east Africas largest economy,has seen sharpening inequalities and conflict and as its patronage-heavy system makes way for stronger democratic institutions and the rule of law,this could be a real milestone for the nation.