NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 18 – Eight top lawyers have been shortlisted by the Public Service Commission for the post of chairperson in the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution.
Among the top contenders are former Law Society of Kenya chairpersons Gibson Kamau Kuria and Ambassador Raychelle Omamo.
Others are former Members of Parliament Prof Kivutha Kibwana (Presidential advisor) and Kembi Gitura (Kenya’s envoy to Belgium) as well as a former commissioner with the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, Mutakha Kangu.
Also on the list of the eight is the former Executive Director of Institute for Education in Democracy Koki Muli, lawyers Charles Nyachae and Mwangi Kariuki.
An advertisement appearing in the local dailies by the Public Service Commission Secretary Bernadette Nzioki has asked the candidates to appear before the PSC for interviews on Friday.
“The following shortlisted candidates are required to appear before the selection committee constituted under Section 8(4) of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Act, 2010 on the date and time as indicated,” the statement by PSC indicates.
The CIC is mandated to monitor, facilitate, and oversee the development of legislation and administrative procedures required to implement the Constitution.
It is required to co-ordinate with the Attorney-General and the Kenya Law Reform Commission in preparing for tabling in Parliament, the legislation necessary to implement the Constitution and ensure that the letter and the spirit of the Constitution are respected.
The first candidate to be interviewed will be Mr Gitura who will meet the panel at 9am. He will be followed by Ms Muli 30 minutes later.
The candidates are required to bring their National Identity Card, academic and professional certificates and other testimonials.
“The candidates should bring with them originals of the required documents and wait in room 118, on the 1st floor of the Commission House, Off Harambee Avenue.”
The last candidate to be interviewed will be Dr Kuria at 12.30pm after Mr Nyachae.
According to the Constitution, the CIC should be created within 90 days after the President promulgates the new law. The new law was signed by the President on August 27.
The CIC has nine members with the chairman being a person who is eligible to be a judge of the Supreme Court. The other members must be Kenyans who have degrees in law, public administration, Economics, Gender, Human Rights or Government.
Those on the interviewing panel include a representative from the Cabinet Office, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs. Others are from the State Law Office, Ministry of State for Public Service and the Public Service Commission.
The Public Service Commission is expected to forward the shortlisted names of chairperson and members of the Commission to the President and the Prime Minister for nomination within seven days.
“The President in consultation with the Prime Minister shall nominate within seven days a chairperson and eight other persons for appointment as chairperson and members of the Commission respectively and forward the same to the National Assembly,” the CIC Act reads.
“The National Assembly shall, within fourteen days consider all nominations received under subsection (6) and approve or reject any nomination.”
If Parliament approves the nominees, the Speaker shall within seven days forward the names of approved persons to the President for appointment.
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