Coalition scores poorly on major reforms agreed under Agenda Four

By Mutinda Mwanzia

After last year’s signing of the National Accord, the Grand Coalition Government was to enact key reforms.

This was to ensure Kenya would not experience another election upheaval, which brought the country to the brink of collapse.

The Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (KNDR) team recommended various reforms under Agenda Four.

Among the outlined reforms touched on the Kenya Police, Judiciary, electoral systems, Parliament, the Constitution and land.

On all these fronts, nothing much has been done.

But a few initiatives have been undertaken, according to the KNDR, to reform the police.

Mr Mathew Iteere replaced former Police Commissioner Major-Gen Hussein Ali in a bid to reform the force.

KNDR also recommended an independent Police Commission to review and define the role of the Administration Police.

Recruitment and training

Prosecution of poll chaos suspects remains an acid test to the coalition as pressure piles on President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to push for reforms outlined in Agenda Four of the National Accord. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

It proposed a review of laws related to security and policing, including setting up an independent complaints commission, citizen oversight of police services.

Other reforms include the recruitment and training of more police officers to raise the police-to-population ratio to the UN standards.

So far, some of the progress in police reforms includes the formation of a Civilian Oversight Board last year.

A Gender Taskforce has also been set up to pursue claims of gender violence.

On electoral reforms, proposals have been made to radically change the way elections are conducted, following the bungled 2007 polls.

They include a proposal for voters to go to the polls for more than a day to pick the president, MPs and councillors.

The election of the president may be held on a separate day if reforms are adopted.

Others include introducing electronic voting and relay. This will end the manual process of collecting, collating, transmitting and tallying votes.

Key electoral reforms already undertaken following the disbanding of ECK include the formation of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) and the Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission (IIBRC).

There is also the reduction of the size of the electoral commission and the establishment of a professional secretariat.

Review of the voter register and electoral boundaries are also part of the reforms.

On judicial reforms, a task force has recommended enhancing the independence and effectiveness of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to ensure merit-based appointments for judges.

There is also a proposal to expand and restructure the JSC to include representation from among others, the Law Society of Kenya.

Another is to accord the Judiciary financial autonomy and its expenses be charged directly from the consolidated fund.

There are also suggestions to introduce a competitive process, where vacancies in the Judiciary are advertised and interviews conducted by the JSC.

Law review experts

On constitutional reforms, a Committee of Experts has been set up. Parliament has also embarked on reforms with the publishing of new Standing Orders, which propose far-reaching reforms.

The reforms aim at enhancing the quality of parliamentary debates and the House’s effectiveness.

Introduction of live coverage of parliamentary proceedings has already begun, which is one of the notable reforms.

The enhancing of Parliament’s oversight role in the national Budget is also a major score.

Strengthening of organs such as the Parliamentary Investment Committee to promote accountability in the use of public resources is another key reform.