Mutula steps in to settle row in rights team

They said the differences were not good at a time when the country was implementing new constitution. The lawyers said it was important that the country remained focused in implementation of the new constitution “and is not distracted by avoidable institutional problems in the governance institutions”.

Protect credibility

The International Centre for Policy and Conflict also called on the commission “to jealously protect its credibility, integrity, legitimacy as an effective guarantor of human rights reputation.”

Executive director Wainaina Ndung’u said having effective and credible national human rights institutions was key benchmark for assessing the success of the strong and sustainable human rights protection at the national level.

Mr Wainaina said Ms Jaoko should respect and uphold the internal decisions of the commission that have collectively been agreed upon. “This is necessary in ensuring that the integrity, credibility and reputation of the commission is not compromised,” Mr Wainaina said.

He said his organisation recognises the commission’s need for strong and effective leadership, that is able to operate distinctively and independently from the State influence and interference. A strong institutional infrastructure must also exist to sustain a culture of human rights.

The merging of the National Commission and that of Gender, the lawyers said, enhances its responsibility and that it would now be required to “stand up in the gap between the government and the public, ensuring that the rights of the public are protected.”

The commission, an independent rights institution has the core mandate to further the protection and promotion of human rights in Kenya. Its commissioners include Ms Jaoko, Hassan Omar, Wambui Kimathi, Winfred Lichuma, Samuel Tororei, Fatuma Ibrahim, Mute, Fatuma Dullo, Anne Ngugi and Mohamed Hallo.

Only Mr Tororei supported Ms Jaoko when the commissioners voted against her. Rows at the commission started in May when the commissioners requested Ms Jaoko to step down saying they were not satisfied with her leadership.

They said the commission’s profile since former chairman Maina Kiai left needed urgent intervention and its image rebuilt. Further, they doubted if Ms Jaoko would be up to the task in implementing the new constitution. Ms Jaoko’s position is elective and argues that she had not been treated fairly by the commissioners.