NAIROBI, Kenya, May 20 – With ongoing efforts to ensure successful implementation of the Constitution, the Ministry of Justice has formed a National Values Task Force Committee to begin drafting a national values policy.
Leaders from religious bodies, academia and civil societies met on Friday to discuss framework for a national value system, at a stakeholders workshop hosted by the Ministry of Justice.
Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo stressed the importance of a national values system based on the tragic events of the post election violence.
"Reflecting on what befell the country in 2007 and 2008, there is need for all stakeholders to start working consciously and systematically towards ensuring this country fully adapts and operationalises the national values espoused in the new Constitution," the Minister said in a statement.
Samuel Katia, Chairman of the National Value Task Force Committee, said the constitution cannot be properly implemented without setting a national values policy in place.
"The Constitution itself is value based from A to Z, so you cannot implement the Constitution today without taking cognisance of what those values are. The task force was formed to come up with policy to help Kenyans live those values."
The Committee will begin a tour of all 47 counties in June to gather views from the public in the drafting process, and plans to have a policy and legislation framework completed by October this year.
Minister Mutula added that "there is need to lay a strong moral and ethical foundation as a basis for our posterity and prosperity in becoming a middle income country."
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