Committee of Experts closes shop

Business

By Beauttah Omanga

The Committee of Experts has formally closed shop and challenged Parliament to speed up implementation of the new Constitution.

CoE Chairman Nzamba Kitonga said their work has finally given birth to a new constitutional dispensation, which will change the country for the better.

"We are leaving with our heads high since we did not disappoint millions of Kenyans who wanted change through the new Constitution, especially after the 2008 post-election violence," he said.

CoE Chairman Nzamba Kitonga (second from left) hands over their final report to CIOC Chairman Mohammed Abdikadir as deputy Vice-Chairpersons Atsango Chesoni (left) and Millie Odhiambo look on after addressing the Press in Nairobi, Monday. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

He handed over the commission’s final report to Parliament, yesterday.

Receiving the report, whose copies were not availed to the media immediately, the Constitution Oversight Implementation Committee Chairman Mohamed Abdikadir said Parliament would not kill the reform spirit.

"The CIOC, which has just been set up, will live up to its task and will strive to beat all implementation deadlines by having necessary Bills in place in time," said Mr Abdikadir.

The CIOC Vice-Chairperson Millie Odhiambo was also on hand to receive the report.

Abdikadir assured Kenyans that the recent fallout among MPs over the composition of the team would not derail the implementation process.

"The creation of this body took unusually long due to infighting among the coalition partners. We hope Parliament will avoid these delays in future because time is of the essence," Mr Kitonga said.

He said implementation of the new Constitution is a challenge, but called for patience among Kenyans and teamwork among politicians.

Issues of concern

"There have been several controversies relating to the implementation of the new laws, but we are optimistic that the reform momentum will not be slowed down," he said.

Speaking at the last conference at Delta House, which served as the CoE’s operational base, Kitonga and the other nine experts, singled out issues of concern to leaders as being the role of the Provincial Administration, the new county governments and debate on the Bills related to the vetting of judges and magistrates.

On the Provincial Administration, the CoE Chairman said contrary to some interpretations, the officials will be retained but serve under a restructured system.

"Those saying they have to leave or insisting that they will stay but given more powers, are wrong. The system has to be re-organised to fit into the national and county government needs administratively," he said.

The CoE noted the counties would arouse interest among veteran politicians seeking new frontiers of leadership and professionals wanting to make them viable economic units.

"We are comfortable in the belief that acceptable accommodation will be achieved to make our county governments attain their objective of bringing change and resources at grassroots," said Kitonga.

He noted the debate on vetting of judges has exploded in ugly exchanges between judges and magistrates on one side and lawyers on the other.

"This is regrettable because the two sides were meant to ensure the management of this process has integrity and honesty so as to produce a rejuvenated Bench," he said.

He termed the lists of acceptable and none-acceptable appointees as judges a needless distraction.

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