Monday, December 26, 2011

A cocktail of fortunes for optimistic country




Published on 24/12/2011
By PETER OPIYO
It has been a significant year as Kenya implements the new Constitution to turn a new Chapter in governance.
As this unfolded the country has also witnessed eventful happenings that had mixed implications on Kenyans.
The year started with an uproar over President Kibaki’s nominees to key judicial offices, as the
Kenyans are upbeat as the year saw significant constitutional reforms. [PICTURE: FILE/STANDARD]
country embarked on the implementation of the new Charter. But the president’s action was overturned by the High Court on ground of unconstitutionality.
Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, former Attorney General Amos Wako and National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende also disagreed with the President’s action of appointing Alnashir Visram as Chief Justice, Kioko Kilukumi as Director of Public Prosecutions and Githu Muigai as Attorney General.
Then in March the International Criminal Court summoned six Kenyans for initial appearance at The Hague on allegations of bearing the greatest responsibility of crime against humanity during the 2007/2008 post-poll upheavals.
Consequently Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Postmaster General Hussein Ali, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey and Radio presenter Joshua Sang, appeared before the Court in April for the reading of the charges.
They later appeared at the Court for confirmation hearings in September. The outcome of the hearings is expected early next month.
Sinai fire
The year also saw Kenya lose 100 people in a fire tragedy caused by an oil leak at Sinai slums in Nairobi in September.
It was a difficult month that also saw the country and indeed the world lose Nobel Laureate and environmentalist Wangari Maathai. The first African woman to win the coveted Nobel Prize succumbed to cancer in Nairobi. The disease also claimed renowned novelist Margaret Ogola during the same month.
World Olympics gold medalist Samuel Wanjiru also died at his Nyahururu home in May.
Perhaps marking the climax was the decision by Kenya Defence Forces to venture into anarchic Somalia in pursuit of the militant Al Shabaab after a spate of kidnappings of tourists and two Kenyan soldiers by the group.
KDF kicked off the incursion under Operation Linda Nchi (Operation Defend the Nation) in October with a mission to incapacitate the militant group.
Agenda Four
The year also saw the formation of key governance bodies under the new Constitution to champion reforms under the Agenda Four programme. In place to achieve this is the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission that is expected to deliver credible polls come next year and beyond.
Also in place, for the first time is the Supreme Court that would handle disputes arising out of the presidential poll results. Other key bodies and offices like Judicial Service Commission, Controller of Budget and Commission on Revenue Allocation amongst others have so far been established.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)