Various groups in public life are being invited to help shape Kenya's new constitution.

President Daniel arap Moi has signed the Kenya Review Commission Amendment Act, which establishes a 25-member commission to help review the existing constitution.

The act was adopted by parliament earlier this month.

The latest move is an important step in a bitter battle for reform.

Members of the commission are to come from all parts of public life and will include representatives of political parties, women's organisations and religious groups.

They will work alongside two other groups - a national consultative forum and a district one, to carry out the review.

Constitutional crisis

The issue of constitutional reform in Kenya is heated.

In the summer of 1997, demands by opposition figures and reform groups for constitutional change led to violent demonstrations by thousands of people on the streets of several Kenyan cities.

Their protests were violently suppressed and more than a dozen people lost their lives in a crackdown by paramilitary police.

The call for constitutional reform then became a rallying cry for opponents of President Moi in the run up to general elections a year ago.

When President Moi was returned to power, he announced that a review would be carried out.

Much time has since been spent in arguments and debates as to who exactly should carry out the review.