PSC meets today over boundary review team

By Beuttah Omanga and George Olwenya

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review meets today to set procedures for the appointment of commissioners of the Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission.

Yesterday, Vice-Chairman Ababu Namwamba said the committee will also discuss the progress report on the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) and the Committee of Experts to be presented to Parliament. "We will be preparing a report, which we will present to the House on the progress on the two committees we have so far formed," said Mr Namwamba.

He said the 27-member committee would lobby MPs to adopt the list of proposed commissioners to the IIEC.

He said time was running out in setting up committees as spelt out in the National Accord and that Parliament must be united to avoid setbacks.

Last month, the committee nominated Mr Ahmed Issack Hassan as chairman, but Parliament has the final say.

Namwamba said the boundary commission has attracted a number of applications.

He said like the IIEC, the PSC would mandate a private human resource company to vet applications before the committee reconvenes to shortlist applicants.

The Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, which spells out the role of the boundary commission, says the team would be tasked with the establishment of new boundaries for administrative, constituencies and civic bodies.

Meanwhile, Lands Minister James Orengo has accused religious leaders of doing little to solve the stalemate in the coalition Government.

Mr Orengo said the Church had a role to play in standing for constitutionality.

He accused church leaders of "just making noise".

Orengo said the church was a "stakeholder in the democratisation process".

"Church leaders should be pragmatic and must speak the truth," he said. He was speaking at Ugunja in Ugenya District on Monday.

He said the church should be a critical pillar of democracy in the modern society.