[JURIST] Kenya will hold its first-ever national referendum November 21 when voters decide on the country's new constitution [text, PDF; JURIST report], Kenyan officials announced Monday. The draft of the new charter has divided the country [JURIST report] over issues including presidential power controls, separation of church and state, and distribution of government powers. Protests against the constitution killed at least one person in July and some fear the referendum will raise tensions and spark additional violence. Electoral Commission of Kenya [official website] chairperson Samuel Kivuitu urged voters to "respect each other" and appealed to government leaders "to desist from making sweet promises to voters on condition that they vote one way or threatening reprisals against voters if they do not vote in a particular way." The Mail & Guardian has more.

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