President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta (second right) and deputy president-elect William Ruto (right) meet top security officials at Mr Kenyatta’s home in Nairobi, on March 11, 2013. The Committee on Assumption to the Office of the President has dismissed criticism over its regular presidential briefings March 14, 2013. FILE NATION MEDIA GROUP
By EDITH FORTUNATE efortunate@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, March 14 2013 at 10:33
Posted Thursday, March 14 2013 at 10:33
The Committee on Assumption to the Office of the President has dismissed criticism over its regular presidential briefings.
The committee chaired by Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia said Thursday the law requires the team to brief a president-elect immediately such a declaration is made by the electoral commission.
“The briefings taking place between the President-elect and security officials, even ministerial briefs are guided by the law. We are just abiding by the law,” Mr Kimemia told Nation.
The Assumption to Office of the President Act states: “The Committee shall ensure that the President-elect under section 9 receives security briefings from the respective national security organs.”
It furthers in Article 11: “Public officers are also supposed to provide required information.”
The Act states in sub section 1: The President-elect shall, in consultation with the Committee, carry out such preparations as may be necessary for the purpose of assuming office. He may also, in carrying out preparations under subsection 1, request in writing for such information from a public officer as the President-elect may consider necessary.
Further under subsection 3, it states: “A public officer from whom information is requested under subsection (2) shall provide the information within a reasonable time. And any public officer who fails to comply with the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.”
Mr Kimemia said what the Committee was doing is not illegal and it is adhering to the rule of law.
Cord politicians led by Budalangi MP-elect Ababu Namwamba protested against the security briefs given to President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Envoys and security chiefs should stop paying homage to Uhuru and Ruto (referring to the president-elect and his deputy) instead they should wait for the Supreme Court to give its verdict, the security chiefs should also cease from briefing him,” said Mr Namwamba.
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