Experts to seek extension of their contracts

• Terms expire this month but mandate is supposed to end after referendum

The government has directed experts writing the new constitution to seek an extension of their contracts until after the referendum.

The Nation on Monday learnt that the move followed fears that the Committee of Experts (CoE) could find themselves jobless at the end of this month because the contracts they signed lapse on February 23.

A highly placed source in government who sought anonymity because of the politics surrounding the CoE said there was need for the contracts to be extended to ensure that the constitution review did not stall because of a change of guard at the committee.

According to the law that established the CoE, its mandate ends 45 days after the referendum.

Parliamentary select committee on the constitution review vice- chairman Ababu Namwamba said the contracts of the experts would be renewed should they end before the constitution review is completed.

“I’m yet to see the individual contracts signed but it is possible that some of them were given one-year contracts which are renewable. Parliament should have no problem renewing them if they end before we finish this exercise,” he said.

Denied claims

But CoE chairman Nzamba Kitonga denied claims that the committee had written any letter seeking to have their contracts extended until after the referendum.

“The law says that the term of the committee comes to an end 45 days after the referendum,” said Mr Kitonga. “I’m the one who signs every letter on behalf of the commission and I have not signed any such letter.”

The experts are set to meet Tuesday to go through recommendations made by the parliamentary team driving the constitution review during their 11-day retreat that ended last week.

At the weekend, Prime Minister Raila Odinga asked the experts to consider reducing the number of MPs proposed in the draft constitution. The parliamentary team had recommended a total of 349 MPs, which Mr Odinga said would be too costly to sustain.

A section of the political class has previously called for the removal of the experts, accusing them of misrepresenting the views of Kenyans on the constitution.

But even amid the uncertainty surrounding the contracts, the CoE yesterday advertised for constituency civic education coordinators.

According to the advertisement, successful applicants will be given three-month contracts to coordinate civic education campaigns.