High Court orders Kibaki to gazette land team officials

By Lucianne Limo

Nairobi, Kenya: The High Court has issued orders directing the President to gazette the chairperson and members of National Land Commission within seven days.

Mr Amoni Amfry and Mr Nagib Shamsa had asked the court to order President Kibaki to gazette the commissioners on grounds that failure to do so was preventing the commission from implementing urgent land reforms.

Those appointed to the commission are Dr Mohamed Swazuri (chairperson) and members Dr Tomik Konyimbih, Dr Rose Musyoka, Dr Samuel Tororei, Silas Muriithi, Abigael Mbagaya, Muthoni Njogu, Clement Lenanchuru and Abdulkadir Khalif.

Prior to the completion of nomination process, the appointment of commissioners was challenged in court late last year but the court dismissed the petition.

Land reforms

The names were supposed to be gazetted seven days after confirmation of appointment by Parliament on August 14, 2012.

“The delay in setting the motion in operation of such a key institution in land reforms contrary to the expectations of Kenyans expressed through their duly elected representatives cannot be allowed to go on especially bearing in mind our common history, where the emotive issue of land has caused untold suffering and lives have been lost,” ruled Justice Majanja on Monday.

The judge said the Constitution requires the President to appoint commissioners in accordance with legislation.

“The National Assembly has done its part in accordance with the regulations, the court has declined to intervene to stop the process of appointment and what remains now is for the President to act in accordance with the law,” said Majanja.

“There is nothing to interpose the obligation of the President to act in accordance with the law. The only remedy, therefore, is to direct the President to act in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” he ruled.

Majanja noted that it was not in dispute that the selection panel shortlisted candidates, conducted interviews, forwarded names to the President, who in consultation with the Prime Minister nominated the chairperson and members of the commission.

Public servants

“The National Assembly duly approved the names of persons selected and forwarded them to the President for gazettement in accordance with paragraph 8 of the First Schedule of the Act. What remains now is for the President to act in accordance with paragraph 8 of the First Schedule to the Act,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Kibaki has said all stakeholders should support harmonisation of salaries of public servants.

The President particularly called for support of newly established Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in its endeavour to ensure fairness in the remuneration of public servants.