Annan given reforms update

Chief mediator Kofi Annan met President Kibaki on Monday to review the progress on reforms under the National Accord.

Mr Annan, who was accompanied by former Mozambican and South African First Lady Graça Machel engaged President Kibaki in a closed-door session at the latter’s Harambee House office.

The chief mediator and Ms Machel left the building shortly after noon in a seven-vehicle convoy for the sprawling Kibera slums to inspect the new highrise buildings built for slum dwellers.

Improve governance

A Presidential Press Service statement said President Kibaki took the former UN boss and Ms Machel through the various reforms the government had implemented to improve governance in the country.

The President cited the publication of the draft constitution as one of the critical reforms already implemented and assured them that the country would have a new constitution next year.

“The Head of State expressed the Government’s determination to ensure that a new constitutional dispensation is attained by next year,” read the statement.

He also briefed the former Mr Annan on the progress the government was making in implementing land reforms as outlined in Agenda Four of the National Accord.

President Kibaki told Mr Annan that the land reforms were being addressed comprehensively through the National Land Policy.

The Cabinet approved the land policy mid this year, and Lands minister James Orengo tabled the document in Parliament last week.

The president also briefed Mr Annan and Ms Machel on the government’s efforts to reform institutions dealing with the delivery of justice.
He singled out reforms in the Police Force in line with recommendations of the task force report.

The task force, chaired by retired Judge Philip Ransley, recommended far-reaching reforms in the structure of the police force with a view to improving its efficiency and image in the eyes of the public.

On the Judiciary, President Kibaki said the government was adopting “a sector-wide approach”.

“On efforts to ensure equitable and balanced development across all regions of the country, the President said the Government was determined to realise community empowerment through increased devolved public fund allocations for both social and income-generating programmes,” the statement stated.

Hundreds of families

Attorney-General Amos Wako, Solicitor-General Wanjuki Muchemi and Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko walked into Harambee House as the talks were going on, but it was not clear whether they attended the meeting.

In the meeting was head of Public Service and secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura and other senior Government officials.

From the meeting, Mr Annan and Ms Machel toured Soweto area of Kibera slums before inspecting the newly commissioned estate where hundreds of families from the slums were moved to recently.