Govt, watchdog differ over merger

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Kenya National Commission on Human Rights chairperson Frolence Jaoko during the Prime Minister's round table on Gender at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre on May 24, 201. Ms Jaoko differed with Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo over whether three Commissions should be merged. TOM MARUKO

By LUCAS BARASA, lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, May 24 2011 at 16:34

A human rights watchdog has differed with Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo over whether three Commissions should be merged.

While Mr Odinga, Mr Kilonzo and Centre for Multi-Party Democracy official Njeri Kabeberi said the National Commission on Gender and Development, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman should operate independently, KNCHR wants them merged.

The PM, Mr Kilonzo and Ms Kabeberi told a gender roundtable at Kenyatta International Conference Centre Tuesday that separate Bills should be presented to Parliament for the establishment of the three Commissions.

But addressing journalists after the meeting, KNCHR chairperson Florence Jaoko pushed for the merger of the institutions saying that is how other developed countries had done and that it would expensive to run them separately.

“We want one big commission. Even South Africa has been trying to merge its commissions as they couldn’t work separately. The United Kingdom has merged while Ghana is also bringing them together. Gender and human rights cannot be separated. You cannot do human rights and say it is separate from gender,” Ms Jaoko said.

The constitution has already merged KNCHR and the Gender Commission to form Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission under the leadership of Ms Jaoko. However the law also allows for the separation of the commissions through Parliament.

Ms Jaoko said her Commission and that of gender presented joint budget proposals of Sh300 million although they still operated under different offices.

She said having many transitional commissions would be a strain to the economy, as each is required to have nine commissioners each, an office and other staff.

“If we have one big commission with nine commissioners resources will be covered under one system. Gender also stands to gain by being in one big system,” she said.

But Ms Kabeberi said the commissions should operate separately saying if women do not have their own watchdog “we will continue to be weaker".

“Removing Gender Commission is like removing a gain for women. It should be strengthened structurally and financially,” Ms Kabeberi said.

Other speakers at the roundtable called for speedy enactment of Gender Equality Bill, the Ombudsman Bill and Human Rights Bill. The constitution calls for the enactment of laws within 18 months after the promulgation of the constitution.

“We are watching our MPs. Our accountability requirement will be secret of the ballot box,” lawyer Winfred Lichuma said.

The participants also called for increase of health budget from the current seven to 15 percent of the national budget.

Mr Kilonzo announced that his Ministry has received cash for civic education on the new Constitution to start on Friday and that it will also be done from primary schools to university.

The minister called on Mr Odinga and President Kibaki to intervene and end the row in the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee headed by Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba that has threatened to delay implementation of the constitution.

The roundtable attracted women leaders from the across the country and was also attended by Norwegian ambassador to Kenya Ludvig Magnus and Unicef country representative Olivia Yambi.