House Speaker Kenneth Marende with German's Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi on July 12, 2011. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI
By NATION Correspondent
Posted Tuesday, July 12 2011 at 14:48
Posted Tuesday, July 12 2011 at 14:48
Kenya’s parliamentary leaders on Tuesday asked the German government to assist in establishing credible and strong electoral institutions to ensure next year’s elections are free and fair.
Speaker Kenneth Marende and seven Members of Parliament who met German chancellor Angela Merkel said the country required strong institutions so that elections are not tempered with.
Narc Kenya presidential candidate who is also Gichugu MP Martha Karua said the German government should ensure the Constitution is fully implemented and the elections be held in August next year.
Ms Karua said implementation of the Constitution involves respecting the timeliness it provides.
Ms Karua said: “We ask for your support in the implementation of the Constitution so that we can stick to the date in the Constitution…so that it is not violated.”
MPs Peter Kenneth, Jakoyo Midiwo, Zakayo Cheruiyot, Millie Odhiambo, Racheal Shebesh, Yusuf Chanzu and Clerk Patrick Gichohi accompanied House Speaker Mr Kenneth Marende to the meeting at Intercontinental Hotel.
The meeting dwelt on issues relating to parliamentary support, good governance, devolution, corruption, trade and development.
Mr Marende said strong institutions would guard against manipulation of elections and corruption.
The Speaker also said necessary laws relating to elections must be passed on time to ensure elections are held on time next year.
“The constitution provides a date for the elections but there are questions being raised on establishment of institutions to run this election,” Mr Marende observed.
He said Parliament had passed the necessary law to establish the Interim Electoral Boundaries Commission but boundaries had neither been delineated nor commissioners appointed.
The Chancellor promised that her Government would support institutions that will make Kenya a better country by ensuring all legislation touching on elections are enacted.
Ms Merkel praised Parliament and in particular Mr Marende for ensuring the coalition worked together.
“We admire your job and you are appreciated in Germany…you make sure the government can work,” she said.
The Chancellor said she will dispatch the President of the German Parliament to visit the Kenya National Assembly next month to discuss areas of support including rewriting the Standing Orders, establishment of the Senate, infrastructure development and staff training.
Ms Merkel said Kenya should not allow corruption to be a way of life and those involved in all aspects of corruption be it big or small must be brought to book.
She said Kenya could prosper and have a new beginning if it adhered to its new constitution especially devolving power to the counties.
Ms Karua and Mr Kenneth said Kenya was addressing the endemic problem of corruption through reforms in the judiciary and other departments of Government.
They said a clean judiciary which witnessed the appointment of a new chief justice and vetting of judges will punish offenders who went scot free in the old dispensation.
“What made corruption spread is a dysfunctional court system and prosecution process but we have embarked on a clean up,” Ms Karua said.
She said a reformed police, judiciary and prosecution department would reign in on corruption and impunity.
She said a reformed police, judiciary and prosecution department would reign in on corruption and impunity.
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