Bill will limit our powers, says KNCHR

Kenya National Commission for Human Rights chairperson Florence Jaoko. Photo/HEZRON NJOROGE 

By LILLIAN ONYANGO laonyango@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, July 22  2011 at  16:46

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The human rights commission has accused Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo of attempting to limit its powers.

KNCHR chairperson Ms Florence Sirimbi-Jaoko said the Kenya National Human Rights Commission bill would kill the commission as it introduces a restriction that blocks them from dealing with cases of discrimination and equality.

Ms Jaoko said the bill, to be proposed in Parliament, has been “mischievously drafted” and asked parliamentarians not to pass it.

She said the human rights commission has always championed gender matters and warned that should the bill pass, the commission may lose its international human rights standards.

The human rights commission and that of gender were merged in the new Constitution.

The National Commission on Gender and Development (NCGD) chairperson Ms Regina Mwatha said the merger was not in their best interest.

They were speaking at a Nairobi forum where KNCHR official Tom Kagwe said the bill could contradict the constitution.

Confuse the roles

They official further criticised drafting of the gender and equality, the Kenya National Human Rights Commission and the ombudsman Bills, which he said, confuse the roles of the Commissions.

Garsen MP Danson Mungatana said: it was “a poor strategy” while KNCHR Commissioner Hassan Omar Hassan said: “It was malicious and an attempt to undermine human rights protection.”

Mr Hassan added that the Bill would stop the KNCHR from checking the security sector

They asked MPs to ensure that the bill gets kicked out of the House.