Human rights commissions oppose merger

By Lucianne Limo

Two national commissions are fighting for autonomy after they were merged with Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).

The National Gender Commission and the Public Complaints Standing Committee have written to Attorney General Amos Wako, Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo and Committee for the Implementation of Constitution (CIC), seeking to operate separately.

The three commissions were merged to operate as one entity under the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission (KNHREC) when the Constitution was promulgated last August.

The Constitution, however, under Article 59, mandates Parliament to enact legislation either for the formation of the KNHREC or for separate commissions.

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KNCHR on Tuesday differed with Kilonzo and Prime Minister Raila Odinga who called for the maintenance of separate commissions.

"We need a separate commission to deal with numerous issues affecting Kenyan women. The AG has already drafted three separate Bills for the three commissions and it’s subject to further consultation," Mutula said.

The PM also said he does not support the merger of the three commissions saying women gains must be safeguarded by maintaining the gender commission.

CIC Chairman Charles Nyachae said he would meet with stakeholders on Monday to consult and resolve whether to split the three commissions.

The trio were speaking at the Prime Minister’s roundtable meeting on gender affairs that brought together women leaders from across the country at Kenyatta International Conference Centre on Tuesday.

KNCHR Chairperson Florence Jaoko supported the merger saying this will save tax payers Sh600 million and also allow Kenyans to access various services under one roof.

"We have presented our budget of Sh300 million as KNHREC but if we were to go our separate ways, then each commission would ask for Sh300 million," she said.

Public Complaints Standing Committee Director Ken Mwige and Gender Commission Chairperson Regina Mwatha, however, differed with Jaoko saying the commissions should not be merged.