If approved, the President will have powers to dismiss the chairperson of the commission, “which will undermine its independence.”
Local and international organisations have protested against the move during the session.
“We want to know the measures put in place to ensure IPOA is independent,” the Parisy Tiakula- led commission inquired.
With the new Constitution, the Kenyan delegation led by Senior Deputy Solicitor General Maryanne Njau were asked to explain, “the difference between present and previous system of governance… with the old and the new Constitution.”
The financial independence of the Judiciary was also questioned.
Njau, who is representing the government, will also be required to highlight measures adopted to ensure the death penalty is abolished.
“We would like to know whether there is any sensitisation being carried out to the public about the need to abolish the death penalty,” the commission appealed.
On freedom of association and meeting, the commission noted that Kenyan through its report failed to address key issues by making “serious omissions.”
“We want to know whether there is any intention to adopt law protecting human rights defenders.”
On Sunday, the government admitted that it has tried to adhere to all the set standards set by treaties it is party to, but pointed out corruption, poverty, terrorism and lack of adequate resources as the major hurdles.
“While Kenya has the constitutional, legal and administrative measures to guarantee rights, inadequate resources have been a challenge to their actualization,” reads a report presented to the commission.
The government then went ahead to highlight some of the major milestones it has done to implement the African charter that governs the commission.
Kenya will on Tuesday respond to questions raised by the commission.
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