President William Ruto has directed his Deputy President Ligaty Gachagua to consult with the Attorney-General, the Constitutional Commission and the Independent Office to prepare an omnibus bill that will enable the phased recruitment of commissioners.
According to the Head of State, this will eliminate the vacuum created when the terms of the independent body’s commissioners expire at the same time and ensure that delivery is uninterrupted.
“I am aware that in certain committees such as the Pay and Remuneration Commission and the Administrative Justice Commission, the terms of the chairperson and all members have ended at the same time, leaving these bodies in an unwanted limbo. For example, the Independent Constituency Boundaries Commission has not been able to effectively discharge its functions for two years,” he said.
President Ruto, while receiving end of term reports from outgoing Constitutional Commission officials at the Presidential Villa in Nairobi yesterday, said there was a need to review the empowering legislative instruments for the various constitutional commissions and independent agencies and entrench in law progressive legislation aimed at eliminating duplications and strengthening the interdependence of these agencies while preserving their independence.
“The framework for collaboration between the government and the Constitutional Committee and independent institutions provides a fruitful opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the two. The government recognizes the role of the Parliamentary League in coordinating the Constitutional Committee. I therefore pledge to support the Parliamentary League in establishing a properly functioning secretariat along similar lines as the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC),” he said.
At the same time, President Ruto assured Kenyans that his administration would ensure transparent recruitment of members to fill upcoming vacancies in the Constitutional Commission, saying recruitment to positions of responsibility must demonstrate true allegiance to the rule of law.
The commissions and independent bodies whose chairpersons and members’ terms have expired are the Pay and Remuneration Commission, the Commission for the Administration of Justice (Ombudsman), the Gender Equality Commission and the Independent Police Oversight Authority.
The President commended the commissioners for implementing national values and principles of governance, strengthening inclusiveness and unity, working towards sustainability of the civil service payroll, reforming the police and fighting corruption.
He noted that the government has launched the “Zero Fault Audit Campaign” aimed at highlighting the benefits of having no audit questions in state agencies and departments, with the goal of enhancing accountability, openness, integrity and good governance in public affairs by promoting prudent use and management of public resources.
“I believe the Constitutional Commission has an opportunity to advance this approach across government departments and agencies,” he said.
Chairwoman of the Salaries and Remuneration Committee, Lynn Mengich, after handing over the report to the president, said salary expenditure for civil servants has gradually decreased during her tenure from 51.5 percent of income in 2018 to 46 percent by 2024.
He said the commission had frozen salary increases at state-owned enterprises, in addition to streamlining allowances, saving Sh11.2 billion.IPOA chairperson Anne Makori said the authority was “doing all it can” to hold police to account, saying there had been 20,000 complaints, of which 12,732 had been resolved.
Chairperson of the Gender Equality Commission, Joyce Mutinda, and Chairperson of the Administration of Justice Commission, Florence Kajuju, also presented their reports.
