Sunday, August 8, 2010

House 'ready' for implementing new law

Posted Sunday, August 8 2010 at 14:33
In Summary

Parliament reopens on Tuesday
Speakers says Standing Orders Committee which he chairs to start reviewing procedures of House debate.
House will first engage in passing of budgets of various ministries when it resumes.
Parliament is required to pass at least 73 legislation for the new constitution to function effectively.

Parliament re-opens Tuesday after a two weeks break as major task of implementing new constitution awaits it.

National Speaker Kenneth Marende says the institution is ready and that he had already commissioned Standing Orders Committee which he chairs to start reviewing procedures of House debate.

“We have already appointed a sub-committee to do a working paper on standing orders. We shall also have a two-day workshop sometime this month to discuss the working paper. We expect the sub-committee to formulate a draft standing orders by the end of the year,” Mr Marende told the Nation in an interview.

Following the passage of the new constitution and its expected promulgation, the standing orders have to be re-drafted to provide for how the National Assembly will relate with the Senate and how some bills will be passed.

Mr Marende said the House will first engage in passing of budgets of various ministries when it resumes Tuesday.

The House will then handle some of the Acts in new constitution which require immediate attention and enactment, he said.
Among the first things Parliament lined up for Parliament, is the establishment of the of an Oversight Implementation Committee of members which will work with the nine-member Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution.

Mr Marende cited the judiciary where the Chief Justice is supposed to vacate within six months after the new constitution is effected as among the first things that the House will handle.

A new CJ is to be appointed by the President, subject to the National Accord and after consultation with the Prime Minister and with the approval of the National Assembly.

Parliament is also required to establish mechanisms and procedures for vetting, within a time-frame to be determined in the legislation, the suitability of all judges and magistrates.

“We did our part in making the law that has brought us the new constitution. We believe we will do the same in implementing it,” Mr Marende said.

The Speaker added that Parliament plans to refurbish its Old Chambers to be used by Senators.

Parliament is required to pass at least 73 legislation for the new constitution to function effectively.

The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution shall include persons with experience in public administration, human rights and government.

The Commission shall monitor, facilitate and oversee the development of the legislation and administrative procedures required to implement the Constitution.

It shall further co-ordinate with the Attorney General and the Kenya Law Reform Commission in preparing, for tabling in Parliament and the legislation required to implement the constitution.

The Commission is required to report regularly to the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee on the progress in the implementation of the constitution and any impediments.

It would further work with each constitutional commission to ensure the letter and spirit of the Constitution is respected.

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