Kenya releases final draft of new constitution News
Kenya releases final draft of new constitution

[JURIST] The Kenyan government released the final draft of the country's new constitution Tuesday, amidst protests from those upset with President Mwai Kibaki [official profile] for his failure to limit any of his over-reaching presidential powers [JURIST report] in the new constitution. The Kenyan Electoral Commission [official website] will set a national referendum for November in which the 197 page draft will be up for a citizen's vote. The opposition party Kenya African National Union (KANU) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will continue to campaign against the new constitution and recently took Kibaki to court [JURIST report] for attempting to extend his powers in the final draft. Reuters has more. Kenya's Daily Nation has local coverage [registration required].

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.