Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience © International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Copyright: ISAAA 2010 All rights reserved. This document is a product of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA AfriCenter). Whereas ISAAA encourages the global sharing of knowledge and information, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or part by any means, electronically, mechanically, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission of the copyright owners. Reproduction of this publication, or parts thereof, for educational and non-commercial purposes is encouraged with due acknowledgement, subsequent to permission being granted by ISAAA. Citation: Karembu, M., D. Otunge, and D. Wafula, Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience, ISAAA AfriCenter, Nairobi, Kenya, 2010 Layout and Design: Anthony Nderitu, ISAAA AfriCenter Publication Orders For your copy of this publication please contact: ISAAA AfriCenter PO Box 70, ILRI Campus, Old Naivasha Rd, Uthiru, Nairobi 00605, Kenya. Phone: +254 - 20-4223618 Fax: +254 - 20-4223634 Email: [email protected] For more information about ISAAA, please visit www.isaaa.org and www.isaaa.org/kc or contact the ISAAA Center near you. ISAAA AmeriCenter ISAAA AfriCenter ISAAA SEAsiaCenter 417 Badfield Hall, PO Box 70, 00605, DAPO Box 7777, Cornell University, ILRI Campus, c/o IRRI, Ithaca NY 14853, Uthiru, Nairobi Metro Manila, United States of America. Kenya. The Philippines . ii Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to recognize the tireless efforts and contributions of the Biosafety Bill Consortium members towards the enactment of the Biosafety Act 2009. It was through a lot of hard work and intellectual tact that the law passed. The support received from public and private sector institutions, the academic community, various media houses, development partners and a number of agencies under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system is greatly appreciated. We acknowledge the contributions of Wandera Ojanji for making the initial draft of this document and all those who helped in final editing. iii Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... iii LISTS OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................. 1 CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 3 Rationale for Biosafety Law ................................................................................................... 3 The Origins of Biosafety Laws ............................................................................................... 3 Domestication of International Obligations .......................................................................... 5 Why Agricultural Biotechnology? ........................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................... 9 The Process of Drafting the Biosafety Bill ............................................................................. 9 The Draft Biosafety Bill ....................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................ 15 Cabinet Approval of the Draft Biosafety Bill ....................................................................... 15 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................. 17 Debating the Biosafety Bill 2007 ......................................................................................... 17 Parliamentary Discussions on the Biosafety Bill 2007 ....................................................... 17 The Biosafety Bill 2008 ........................................................................................................ 20 Parliamentary Discussions on the Biosafety Bill 2008 ....................................................... 25 CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................................... 28 Presidential Assent .............................................................................................................. 28 CHAPTER SIX ....................................................................................................................... 30 Opposition outside Parliament ............................................................................................ 30 Opposition in Parliament .................................................................................................... 35 The Alternative Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill 2008 ...................................................... 36 CHAPTER SEVEN ................................................................................................................ 39 Outreach Strategies in Favor of the Biosafety Bill .............................................................. 39 Formation of the Biosafety Consortium ............................................................................... 42 The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) .................................. 44 Production and Dissemination of IEC Materials ................................................................ 48 The Role of Public Universities in Capacity Building ........................................................ 48 The National Biotechnology Awareness Strategy (BioAWARE) ........................................ 49 The Role of the Mass Media ................................................................................................. 50 CHAPTER EIGHT ................................................................................................................. 54 Lesons Learnt ....................................................................................................................... 54 Build Consensus Among Key Government Institutions ..................................................... 54 Determine What Needs to be Achieved Through Advocacy ................................................ 54 Build Alliances and Champions for Support ....................................................................... 54 Build Internal Capacity to Handle the Issues ...................................................................... 55 Develop and Articulate a Comprehensive Communication Strategy .................................. 55 Stakeholder Mapping for Effective Engagement ................................................................. 56 Involvement of MPs in the Process ..................................................................................... 56 Media Strategy..................................................................................................................... 57 Public Involvement .............................................................................................................. 57 Resource Mobilization Strategy .......................................................................................... 58 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 58 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 59 iv Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AATF: African Agricultural Technology Foundation ABSF: African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum ABSPII: Agricultural Biotechnology Support Programme (Phase Two) AHBFI: Africa Harvest Biotechnology Foundation International AG: Attorney General ASARECA: Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa BioAWARE: National Biotechnology Awareness Strategy BioEARN: East African Regional Programme and Research Network for Biotechnology, Bio-safety and Biotechnology Policy Development BCH: Biosafety Clearing House BTA: Biotechnology Trust Africa CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity CEBIB: Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (UoN) CIMMYT: International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center COMESA: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COP: Conference of Parties CSOs: Civil Society Organizations DVS: Department of Veterinary Services EAC: East African Community ECABIC: Eastern and Central Africa Biotechnology Information Center GEF: Global Environment Facility GMO: Genetically Modified Organism IBC: Institutional Biosafety Committee ICO: International Consumer organization, ISAAA: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications ITDG: Intermediate Technology Development Group KARI: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute KBIC: Kenya Biotechnology Information Center KBioC: Kenya Biodiversity Coalition KC: Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology KEBS: Kenya Bureau of Standards KEGCO: Kenya GMO Concern Group KENFAP: Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers KEPHIS: Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service KESSFF:
Recommended publications
  • Special Issue the Kenya Gazette
    SPECIAL ISSUE THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya (Registered as a Newspaper at the G.P.O.) Vol. CXV_No. 64 NAIROBI, 19th April, 2013 Price Sh. 60 GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 5381 THE ELECTIONS ACT (No. 24 of 2011) THE ELECTIONS (PARLIAMENTARY AND COUNTY ELECTIONS) PETITION RULES, 2013 ELECTION PETITIONS, 2013 IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 75 of the Elections Act and Rule 6 of the Elections (Parliamentary and County Elections) Petition Rules, 2013, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya directs that the election petitions whose details are given hereunder shall be heard in the election courts comprising of the judges and magistrates listed and sitting at the court stations indicated in the schedule below. SCHEDULE No. Election Petition Petitioner(s) Respondent(s) Electoral Area Election Court Court Station No. BUNGOMA SENATOR Bungoma High Musikari Nazi Kombo Moses Masika Wetangula Senator, Bungoma Justice Francis Bungoma Court Petition IEBC County Muthuku Gikonyo No. 3 of 2013 Madahana Mbayah MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT Bungoma High Moses Wanjala IEBC Member of Parliament, Justice Francis Bungoma Court Petition Lukoye Bernard Alfred Wekesa Webuye East Muthuku Gikonyo No. 2 of 2013 Sambu Constituency, Bungoma Joyce Wamalwa, County Returning Officer Bungoma High John Murumba Chikati I.E.B.C Member of Parliament, Justice Francis Bungoma Court Petition Returning Officer Tongaren Constituency, Muthuku Gikonyo No. 4 of 2013 Eseli Simiyu Bungoma County Bungoma High Philip Mukui Wasike James Lusweti Mukwe Member of Parliament, Justice Hellen A. Bungoma Court Petition IEBC Kabuchai Constituency, Omondi No. 5 of 2013 Silas Rotich Bungoma County Bungoma High Joash Wamangoli IEBC Member of Parliament, Justice Hellen A.
    [Show full text]
  • The Council-Sec Monthly  KYISA Games Kwale County- VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER 2015 29Th November to 6Th December Word from the Ag
    U P C O M I N G E V E N T S The Council-Sec Monthly KYISA games Kwale County- VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER 2015 29th November to 6th December Word From The Ag. CEO 2015 NOREB invest- Dear Colleagues, ment conference Welcome to the first issue of The Council at Eldoret Sports E-newsletter. Club in Uasin The promulgation of the Constitution of Gishu County Kenya 2010 marked a major milestone in (19th-20th Nov) the way the country is governed. It created KEPSA –CEC Mrs Jacqueline Mogeni training Kwale a three year transition period within which County 26th-28th it was expected that the functions that were assigned to November 2015 County Governments by the constitution should already have transferred in totality. It stipulated the dispersal of po- litical power and economic resources from the Centre through devolution. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Impeachment of 2 Muranga Gover- nor Delayed transfer 3 of Functions The Third Annual Devolution Conference Borrowing level 5 of the National theme is “The Promise Of Devolu- The Council of Governors in County and National Govern- Government tion: Consolidating The Gains After ments, representatives from collaboration with other stake- Transition And Looking Into The holders has organized annual academic, policy, public, pri- Decentralization 7 Future” is scheduled to be vate, media and civil society devolution conferences every held in Meru County in April year since the country adopted a sectors with the opportunity Intercounty Col- 8 2016. The Annual devolution to celebrate milestones, reflect laborations Re- devolved system of government. conferences are now seen as on challenges, constructively gional coopera- The First Annual Devolution one of the most important critique, network, discuss tions and eco- Conference was held in Kwale events in the devolution calendar nomic blocs emerging opportunities and County in April 2014, the Sec- in Kenya.
    [Show full text]
  • Vihiga County Assembly Kenya
    VIHIGA COUNTY ASSEMBLY KENYA ‘Unemployment is the major challenge and reason why the majority of the residents of Vihiga County are living in poverty. I will ensure that we have job centres where our people will be able to access jobs. This will ensure that our people are recruited in their fields of specialisation.’ Governor Moses Akaranga Vihiga County is a county in the Geographically, a larger part of the former Western Province of Kenya. Its County is hilly terrain. It also has a good capital and largest town is Vihiga. The amount of forest cover such as the County borders Kakamega County to Kibiri Forest, which is an extension of VIHIGA Governor Moses Akaranga has an the north, Nandi County to the east, Kakamega Forest. open-door policy and has invited young Kisumu County to the south and Siaya people with problems to visit him in his County to the west. Economy office so that ‘they can find a solution to Agriculture is the main economic activity. issues facing them instead of engaging in The County has a population of crime’ 554,622 (2009 census) and covers an Crops planted include maize, millet, area of 563 km². bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes and cassava. Main economic activities include There are four major townships: tea farming, eucalyptus tree farming, Luanda, Majengo, Chavakali and Mbale sand and stone quarrying, dairy farming Town which serves as the administrative and horticulture. Apart from those in headquarters. The County has four formal employment most residents districts headed by district engage in informal trade, with Luanda commissioners and three sub-counties market being the largest in the region.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kenya Gazette
    SPECIAL ISSUE THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya (Registered as a Newspaperat the G.P.O.) Vol. CXV_No.68 NAIROBI, 3rd May, 2013 Price Sh. 60 GAZETTE NOTICE No. 6117 THE ELECTIONS ACT (No. 24 of 2011) THE ELECTIONS (PARLIAMENTARY AND COUNTY ELECTIONS) PETITION RULES, 2013 THE ELECTION PETITIONS,2013 IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 75 of the Elections Act and Rule 6 of the Elections (Parliamentary and County Elections) Petition Rules, 2013, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya directs that the election petitions whose details are given hereunder shall be heard in the election courts comprising of the judges and magistrates listed andsitting at the court stations indicated in the schedule below. SCHEDULE No. Election Petition Petitioner(s) Respondent(s) Electoral Area Election Court Court Station No. BUNGOMA SENATOR Bungoma High Musikari Nazi Kombo Moses Masika Wetangula Senator, Bungoma County| Justice Francis Bungoma Court Petition IEBC Muthuku Gikonyo No. 3 of 2013 Madahana Mbayah MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT Bungoma High Moses Wanjala IEBC Memberof Parliament, Justice Francis Bungoma Court Petition Lukoye Bernard Alfred Wekesa Webuye East Muthuku Gikonyo No. 2 of 2013 Sambu Constituency, Bungoma Joyce Wamalwa, County Returning Officer Bungoma High John Murumba Chikati| LE.B.C Memberof Parliament, Justice Francis Bungoma Court Petition Returning Officer Tongaren Constituency, Muthuku Gikonyo No. 4 of 2013 Eseli Simiyu Bungoma County Bungoma High Philip Mukui Wasike James Lusweti Mukwe Memberof Parliament, Justice Hellen A. Bungoma Court Petition IEBC Kabuchai Constituency, Omondi No. 5 of 2013 Silas Rotich Bungoma County Bungoma High Joash Wamangoli IEBC Memberof Parliament, Justice Hellen A.
    [Show full text]
  • Kenya 2017: the Interim Elections? Justin Willis - Durham University Nic Cheeseman - University of Birmingham Gabrielle Lynch - University of Warwick
    NOTE ACTUALITE 2 KENYA 2017: THE INTERIM ELECTIONS? Justin Willis - Durham University Nic Cheeseman - University of Birmingham Gabrielle Lynch - University of Warwick Juillet 2017 L’Observatoire de l’Afrique de l’Est (2017-2010) est un programme de recherche coordonné par le Centre d’Etude et de Documentation Econo- mique, Juridique et Sociale de Khartoum (MAEDI-CNRS USR 3123) et le Centre de Recherches Internationales de Sciences Po Paris. Il se situe dans la continuité de l’Observatoire de la Corne de l’Afrique qu’il remplace et dont il élargit le champ d’étude. L’Observatoire de l’Afrique de l’Est a vocation à réaliser et à diffuser largement des Notes d’analyse relatives aux questions politiques et sécuritaires contemporaines dans la région en leur offrant d’une part une perspective historique et d’autre part des fon- dements empiriques parfois négligées ou souvent difficilement accessibles. L’Observatoire est soutenu par la Direction Générale des Relations Inter- nationales et de la Stratégie (ministère des Armées français). Néanmoins, les propos énoncés dans les études et Observatoires commandés et pilo- tés par la DGRIS ne sauraient engager sa responsabilité, pas plus qu’ils ne reflètent une prise de position officielle du ministère de la Défense. Il s’appuie par ailleurs sur un large réseau de partenaires : l’Institut fran- çais des relations internationales, le CFEE d’Addis-Abeba, l’IFRA Nai- robi, le CSBA, LAM-Sciences Po Bordeaux, et le CEDEJ du Caire. Les notes de l’Observatoire de l’Afrique de l’Est sont disponibles en ligne sur le site de Sciences Po Paris.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationship Between Influential Actors' Language and Violence: A
    FEBRUARY 2019 The relationship between influential actors’ language and violence: A Kenyan case study using artificial intelligence Chris Mahony Eduardo Albrecht Murat Sensoy Abstract Scholarly work addressing the drivers of violent conflict predominantly focus on macro-level factors, often surrounding social group-specific grievances relating to access to power, justice, security, services, land, and resources. Recent work identifies these factors of risk and their heightened risk during shocks, such as a natural disaster or significant economic adjustment. What we know little about is the role played by influential actors in mobilising people towards or away from violence during such episodes. We hypothesise that influential actors’ language indicates their intent towards or away from violence. Much work has been done to identify what constitutes hostile vernacular in political systems prone to violence, however, it has not considered the language of specific influential actors. Our methodology targeting this knowledge gap employs a suite of third party software tools to collect and analyse 6,100 Kenyan social media (Twitter) utterances from January 2012 to December 2017. This software reads and understands words’ meaning in multiple languages to allocate sentiment scores using a technology called Natural Language Processing (NLP). The proprietary NLP software, which incorporates the latest artificial intelligence advances, including deep learning, transforms unstructured textual data (i.e. a tweet or blog post) into structured data (i.e. a number) to gauge the authors’ changing emotional tone over time. Our model predicts both increases and decreases in average fatalities 50 to 150 days in advance, with overall accuracy approaching 85%. This finding suggests a role for influential actors in determining increases or decreases in violence and the method’s potential for advancing understandings of violence and language.
    [Show full text]
  • THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya (Registered As a Newspaper at the G.P.O.)
    SPECIAL ISSUE THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya (Registered as a Newspaper at the G.P.O.) Vol. CXIX—No. 137 NAIROBI, 15th September, 2017 Price Sh. 60 GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 9060 THE ELECTIONS ACT (No. 24 of 2011) THE ELECTIONS (PARLIAMENTARY AND COUNTY ELECTIONS) PETITIONS RULES, 2017 IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 75 of the Elections Act and Rule 6 (3) of the Elections (Parliamentary and County Elections) Petition Rules, 2017, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya directs that the election petitions whose details are given hereunder shall be heard in the election courts comprising of the Judges and Magistrates listed and sitting at the court stations indicated in the schedule below. SCHEDULE HIGH COURT No. Electoral Area Election Petition No. Petitioner(s) Respondent(s) Election Court Court Station (Venue) GOVERNOR 1. Bom et County Kericho High Court Kiplagat Richard Sigei IEBC Justice Martin Bomet Election Petition No. 1 Elijah Koech Joyce Cherono Laboso Muya of 2017 Alvin K. Koech 2. Busi a County Busia High Court Peter Odima Khasamule IEBC Justice Kiarie Busia Election Petition No. 4 Returning Officer Busia County Waweru Kiarie of 2017 Fredrick Apopa Sospeter Odeke Ojaamong 3. Emb u County Embu High Court Lenny Maxwell Kivuti IEBC Justice William Embu ElectionPetition No.1 Embu County Returning Officer Musyoka of 2017 Martin Nyaga Wambora David Kariuki 4. Gari ssa County Garissa High Court Nathif Jama Adan Ali Buno Korane Justice James Nairobi ElectionPetition No.2 County Returning Officer Wakiaga of 2017 Antony Njoroge Douglas IEBC 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Devolution Survey Report July 2013
    Devolution Survey Report July 2013 Prepared By Infotrak Research & Consulting P.O Box 23081,00100 GPO Nairobi Manyani East Rd , Lavington www.infotrakresesarch.com Methodology • The poll was sponsored by Centre for Multiparty Democracy and conducted by Infotrak Research & Consulting between 27th to 31st July, 2013 • A sample of 1500 respondents were interviewed to represent the Kenyan adult population of 19,462358; translating into a minimum margin of error of -/+ 2.53 at 95% degree of confidence. The survey was conducted in 25 counties of Kenya • Using the 2009 Kenya Population & Housing Census as the sampling frame, the sample was designed using Population Proportionate to Size (PPS) and mainly entailed; – Use of stratification, random and systematic sampling in drawing regions to be covered , – Ensuring further distribution by area of residence, age and gender, – Using the counties as the key administrative boundary, – Ensuring that every person in the sampled areas had a known chance of being selected • Fieldwork was done using face to face interviews (by pen and paper). – 25% of the interviews were back checked for quality control purposes • Data processing & analysis was carried using CS-Pro and IBM SPSS 20.0 • The questions asked to the respondents are highlighted under each graphic presentation Margin of Error explained • Margin of error decreases as the sample size increases, but only up to a certain point. • A very small sample, such as 50 respondents, has about a 14 percent margin of error while a sample of 1,000 has a margin of error of 3 percent. • By doubling the sample to 2,000, the margin of error only decreases from +/-3 percent to +/- 2 percent and +/-1.8 percent for a sample size of 4000.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kenya Gazette
    SPECIAL ISSUE THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya (Registered as a Newspaper at the G.P.O.) Vol. CXV—No.45 NAIROBI, 13th March, 2013 Price Sh. 60 GAZETTE NOTICE No.3155 THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL AND BOUNDARIES COMMISSION ACT (No. 9 of2011) THE ELECTIONS ACT (No. 24 of2011) THE ELECTIONS (GENERAL) REGULATIONS (L.N. 128 of2012) DECLARATION OF PERSONS ELECTED AS GOVERNORS AND DEPUTY GOVERNORS IN EXERCISEofthe powers conferred by Section 2(1) (a), (b), (c) and 9 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of Kenya, Article 88 (4),180 (1), (2), (4), (5), (6) of the Constitution, section 4 of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, 2011, Sections 39 (1), (2) and (3), of the Elections Act, 2011, Regulations 66 (1), (2), (3) and 87 (1) (b) (4) (b) of the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012 the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission declares that the persons elected as Governors and Deputy Governorsin the election held on 4th March, 2013 and complied with the provisions of the Elections Act, 2011 and of the Constitution, are listed in the Schedule to this notice. Andthat: (a) The respective Codes to the Counties are listed in the First Columnto the schedule. (b) Every name of the County is listed in the Second Columnto the schedule. (c) Every nameofthe elected County Governorof the respective County is listed in the Third Column to the Schedule (d) Every name of the Deputy County Governoris listed in the Fourth Column and (e) Every elected member’s political party or independentstatus is indicated in the Fifth Column.
    [Show full text]
  • Corporate Governance and Performance of County Governments in Kenya
    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND PERFORMANCE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN KENYA BY MACHEL WAIKENDA UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY – AFRICA SPRING 2019 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND PERFORMANCE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN KENYA BY MACHEL WAIKENDA A Dissertation Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY – AFRICA SPRING 2019 ii STUDENT’S DECLARATION I, the undersigned, declare that the research herein is work originally done by me and that it has not been presented to another university or institution except to the United States International University – Africa in Nairobi for academic credit. Signed_______________________________ Date___________________ Machel Waikenda (ID 648969) This project has been submitted for examination with our permission as the appointed supervisors. Signed_______________________________ Date___________________ Professor Peter M. Lewa Signed_______________________________ Date___________________ Professor Maina Muchara Signed_______________________________ Date___________________ Dean, Chandaria School of Business Signed_______________________________ Date___________________ Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs iii COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. No part of this proposal report may be recorded, photocopied, or reproduced in any other way, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any mechanical or electronic form without the permission of the author or USIU-A.
    [Show full text]
  • Council of Governors & 6 Others V Senate [2015] Eklr
    Council of Governors & 6 others v Senate [2015] eKLR REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION PETITION NO.413 OF 2014 BETWEEN THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS…………………….1ST PETITIONER DR. ALFRED MUTUA……………………..…………..2ND PETITIONER PATRICK SIMIYU KHAEMBA……………………......3RD PETITIONER AHMED ABDULLAHI MOHAMED……..……………..4TH PETITIONER WYCLIFFE OPARANYA…………...…………………..5TH PETITIONER JAMES OMARIBA ONGWAE……………..………….6TH PETITIONER MARTIN NYAGA WAMBORA……………..…………...7TH PEITIONER AND THE SENATE……………………………………………..RESPONDENT JUDGMENT Introduction 1. This Petition concerns the constitutionality of summons dated 12th August 2014 issued to certain County Governors by the Senate through its Sessional Committee on County Public Accounts and Investments. The summoned Governors, namely; Isaac Ruto of Bomet County, William Kabogo of Kiambu County, Mwangi wa Iria of Murang’a County and Jack Ranguma of Kisumu County were to appear before the aforesaid Committee on 26th August 2014 to allegedly answer questions on County financial management as raised in the Report of the Auditor General for the financial year 2012/2013. 2. The said Governors and later the 2nd – 7th Petitioners who had likewise been summoned, did not appear before the said Committee. Consequently, the Senate, allegedly exercising powers under Article 228(4) and (5) of the Constitution, on 7th August 2014, resolved that the Controller of Budget should not authorize any withdrawal of public funds for purposes of the Counties headed http://www.kenyalaw.org - Page 1/54 Council of Governors & 6 others v Senate [2015] eKLR by the aforementioned Governors until they had responded to the audit queries raised to the satisfaction of the Senate. 3.
    [Show full text]
  • THE NUMBERS GAME: Predicting Winners and Losers in the August
    By Charles Hornsby Back in September 2016, I published a piece on Facebook that suggested, based on recent party dissolutions and mergers into Jubilee and the accompanying defections by numerous politicians, that – barring discontinuous events, such as the death of a senior leader – the August 2017 general elections in Kenya were already almost over and that Jubilee’s victory seemed assured. The key data I used was the publicly declared political affiliations of each incumbent constituency MP and governor. At the time, the Jubilee bandwagon looked near unstoppable, with two-thirds of the elected constituency incumbents then in their camp (compared to only half after the 2013 elections). Nine months have passed since then. With hindsight, how accurate does that prediction look today? What follows is an independent, unpaid analysis. It is not sponsored or supported by any political party, and it makes no attempt to argue right or wrong, or to favour one alliance over the other; it is purely to assess the current situation and to make an educated guess as to the likely outcomes. As it contains predictions about the unknowable future, it will of course be wrong in many details. But Kenyan election results are far from random; they follow regular patterns and rarely exhibit discontinuous changes, and it is possible to make educated guesses about what will happen based on previous experience. This piece of crystal ball gazing assumes no sudden deaths or disbarments amongst senior leaders, and it doesn’t suggest these results are immutable. Most voters are pretty clearly spoken for, but there is still a sufficiently large “floating vote” to change the result.
    [Show full text]