Cabinet okays three key Bills
President Kibaki chairs a past cabinet meeting. The Cabinet has approved three Bills that will be presented to Parliament for debate August 16, 2011. FILE
The Cabinet has approved three Bills that will be presented to Parliament for debate.
During Tuesday's meeting chaired by President Kibaki at State House, Nairobi the Cabinet approved the Independent Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2011, Power of Mercy Bill 2011 and the Kenya Heroes Bill 2011.
The Independent Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Bill seeks to give effect to article 49 of the Constitution. It establishes an Independent Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission which will replace the current Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC).
The new commission will enforce the anti corruption and economic crimes act and other present and future statutes.
The enactment of the Bill will provide the framework for investigations, prosecution of corruption suspects and assets recovery.
The commission will have a chairperson and six other members.
The Power of Mercy Bill will operationalise article 133 of the Constitution. The Bill provides for the procedures of appointment of members of the advisory committee on the power of mercy, their tenure, rules and procedures of the committee, criteria of formulating its advice and its functions and powers. The committee will advise the President on petitions of mercy and pardon.
Members of the committee will be the Attorney General, the Cabinet secretary in charge of correctional services and five other members who shall not hold any public office.
The Kenya Heroes Bill 2011 which provides for the recognition, identification and selection of heroes and the category of heroes. The Bill further establishes the National Heroes Council that shall establish the criteria of selecting and honouring national heroes.
The criteria shall be based on such values as patriotism, integrity, visionary, courage, enterprise, sacrifice and lasting national impact.
The meeting also approved the hosting of the International Gold Event 2011 by the President’s Award Kenya from September 2-16.
This is a youth development program, which aims at developing qualities of good leadership and citizenship, endurance, community service and skills development through physical recreation and residential training and projects 44,000 Kenyans are currently undergoing the program in various educational institutions in the country.
Cabinet also approved the proposed rehabilitation and improvement of City Park and the liquidation of the defunct Africa Housing Fund.
