President Kenyatta assented to the bills before attending his sister Margaret Wambui Kenyatta’s requiem mass/PSCU
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 13 – President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday assented to a law that gives effect to provisions of the Constitution of Kenya that guarantee freedom from torture, cruelty and punishment.
The new law outlines the principles of the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The legislation provides for reparations to victims of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The new law also empowers the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to investigate alleged violations under the Act.
The Act empowers the KNCHR to monitor compliance by the State with international treaty obligations relating to torture and inhuman treatment.
The KNCHR also gets the role to advise Government, liaise with public entities and work with enforcement agencies in matters relating to torture.
The President also signed into law other Bills including one to provide for the retirement age of judges as seventy years.
Also signed by President Kenyatta, was another bill to reinstate vacation for judges and another one to deal with retirement benefits for the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice. The law on retirement will address the issue of benefits for the immediate former CJ and DCJ.
The President also signed into law another Bill that gives the Head of State the powers to appoint a suitable officer to act in case the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police is vacant.
The Refugees Act 2006, (No 13 of 2006), which places administration of refugees under the Refugees Secretariat and the Persons with Disabilities Act 2003 (No 14 0f 2003), which streamlines membership of the Board, were also signed.
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