NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 20 – The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) has finalised reviewing the two key judicial reform Bills and submitted them for re-publishing.
CIC chairman Charles Nyachae on Thursday handed over to the Attorney General the Judicial Service and Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bills after approving them with minor \’technical changes.\’
Mr Nyachae said the Commission undertook the amendments in conjunction with the Kenya Law Reform Commission.
"We are not giving you the Bills with any (attached) notes. What we are giving you is what we would want published," said Mr Nyachae.
Mr Nyachae said: "We largely relied on what the Ministry of Justice had done. We now hope legislators can now pass them after debate."
Attorney General Amos Wako handed over the Bills to Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo who will publish them afresh.
"I can confirm that the amendments were made in conjunction with officers from the Kenya Law Reform Commission," said the AG.
Mr Kilonzo who had earlier published the Bills and tabled them in Parliament was forced to withdraw them to enable the commission to approve them in compliance with the Constitution.
The two Bills which were tabled last December had been approved by the Cabinet and gone through the first reading.
While receiving the reviewed Bills Mr Kilonzo said the procedure was now right in the implementation process.
"I hope other Ministries will follow this spirit of consultations while preparing their Bills," he said.
He is expected to publish the Bills although the Ministry can still seek the support of MPs on the floor of the House to make any amendments.
Parliament which had been recalled early to consider the two Bills adjourned its sittings for two weeks on Wednesday to allow for the re-publishing of the proposed laws.
While moving the adjournment Motion on Wednesday Deputy Leader of government business Amos Kimunya said the short recess would give the government time to make necessary amendments to the two Bills and follow the correct procedure in tabling them for debate.
Mr Kimunya said the House could not continue sitting until the Bills were properly tabled since it was recalled early specifically to debate the Bills anchoring the new Constitution.
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