Mutula hits out at CIC

Written By:Rufus Hunja,    Posted: Tue, Aug 02, 2011

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo insisted that Cabinet has a role to scrutinize bills as presented by the Attorney General and amend them Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo has hit out at the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) following their allegations that the cabinet is altering bills drafted by the commission. Mutula says the cabinet is a recognized institution of governance that is not subordinate to any organization and hence its recommendations should be incorporated in the bills. These remarks by Kilonzo are set to step up the war of words between him and the CIC, after the latter accused cabinet of altering bills without consulting them. While the commission insists it is unconstitutional to do so, Mutula says only the Supreme Court can judge the legality of the same, adding that Cabinet has a role to scrutinize bills as presented by the Attorney General and amend them. Mutula says his Ministry is waiting for the commission to complete the drafting of the Elections bill so that it can be perused by cabinet. He expressed confidence that Parliament is on course to meet the August 26th timeline in passing bills that are already before the house. The Justice Minister said a meeting to scrutinize the Corruption Ethics Law, the Police Reform Bills among others is slated for this Thursday, adding that he will ask Parliament to extend its sitting to ensure they are on course.