We're doing badly on law enactment, CIC boss says

By ALEX NDEGWAA crisis meeting on implementation of the Constitution was told only two Bills are before Parliament, four months to the deadline for the enactment of the first 25 legislations.
The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee chairperson Mohammed Abdikadir stressed the gravity of the problem, as the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution submitted a timetable agreed by key stakeholders to jumpstart the process.
According to the timetable agreed among the CIC, Attorney General Amos Wako and the Kenya Law Reform Commission chairman Kathurima M’Inoti, MPs will be required to debate and pass some 27 Bills within two weeks after their respective publication dates.
CIC chairman Charles Nyachae tabled the schedule at the meeting attended by Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and four Cabinet ministers to clear the stumbling blocks impeding speedy implementation of the Constitution.
Bill scrutinised
The tight schedule is informed by the race against time to pass the Bills, which the Constitution requires should be passed by August. CIC wants authorities to forward seven crucial Bills within one month for scrutiny pending tabling in Parliament.
CIC wants the Wako and KLRC to submit legislation on Political Parties and Elections for National and County Governments by May 15. The schedule proposes the two laws are enacted in June and July.
Also scheduled for release to CIC on the same day are the Bill on the Kenyan National Human Rights and Equality Commission and that on the National Police Commission.
Draft Laws on Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Ethics and Leadership should be submitted by May 30 for enactment in July.
Bill on Commission for Revenue Allocation should be released to CIC by May 4 and Parliament is expected to pass it by mid-June.
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo, James Orengo (Lands), Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and Finance PS Joseph Kinyua attended Thursday’s meeting.
Reforms
PM’s Chief of Staff Karoli Omondi and members of the Police Reforms Implementation Committee headed by Titus Naikuni also attended.
The ministries are formulating a raft of Bills touching on reforms in Judiciary, police force, lands, financial management and devolved government.
The meeting discussed ways to cut out bureaucratic steps in the legislative process that have delayed the enactment of Bills to implement the new charter.
Among the concerns raised is that further delays will have the Bills disrupted by discussions on the Budget and caught up in heightened political temperatures.