Wednesday, January 5, 2011

CIC sworn in, pledge to move fast on new laws

BY Wahome Thuku
The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) has been inaugurated formally and pledged to make up for the lost time.
The nine commissioners led by Chairman Charles Nyachae were sworn in by Chief Justice Evan Gicheru at the Nairobi Law Courts Tuesday.
And first on their tray are two Bills: one for the vetting of judges and magistrates and the other for judicial service.
Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo handed the two Bills to the commission shortly after the swearing in.
They will now work with the Attorney General and the Kenya Law Reform Commission to ensure the two Bills are given first priority when Parliament resumes from Christmas holiday.
The Bills were first published in September last year raising a controversy that forced the Government to shelve them.
The Government was accused of usurping the role of implementing the Constitution even before the CIC had been established.
The law to govern the vetting of judges should be in place by latest August this year.
The other members of the CIC are Prof Peter Wanyande, Mr Ibrahim M. Ali, Ms Elizabeth Muli, Ms Florence Omosa, Ms Catherine Mumma, Mr Kamotho Waiganjo, Mr Philemon Mwaisaka, Mr Kibaya Imaana Laibuta.
It’s mandate is to monitor, facilitate and oversee the development of legislation and administrative procedures required to implement the Constitution. CIC shall stand dissolved after five years or when Parliament shall determine that the constitution has been fully implemented, whichever comes earlier.
Adhere to timeline
"The delays in approving your names should not make you lose hope," Mutula told the commissioners asking them to adhere to the timeline for implementation. He said his ministry had written to the Treasury for release of funds to the commission.
Mr Nyachae said the commission would be guided by the interests of all Kenyans in accordance to the Constitution.
"The greatest legacy we can leave for the country is to implement this Constitution in less than the five-year life of this commission," he told journalists. Nyachae said the commissioners were aware of the more than two-month delay in kick-starting the implementation but were up to the challenge.
The commissioners will elect a vice chairperson from the three women members to strike a gender balance.

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