East Africa Awakes?Samahani Wana JF kama nitakuwa nimeleta habari hii wakati ikiwa imeshatoka.
Nimesikia habari TBC kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Uchaguzi ya Kenya Bw. Kivuitu na wenzake wamefikishwa Mhakamani huko Kenya kwa kosa la kuvuruga Uchaguzi.
ECK staff on hunger strike
Posted: Wed, Dec 10, 2008 4:33pm EAT
By:Claire Wanja/AFP
Around 600 Election Commission of Kenya- ECK- employees have gone on hunger strike protesting plans to sack them amid government move to disband the body , a spokeswoman said Wednesday.
The ECK is to be disbanded as part of political reforms in the wake of its disastrous handling of the 2007 presidential election, when its tallying of the vote sparked widespread violence.
Speaking at a press conference, [ECK] spokesperson Joan Mutindi said, according to the Kriegler report which was recently adopted by parliament, there were no recomendations for sacking of ECK staff".
She said her staffs were not constitutional office holders but public servants like other government employees.
Mutindi added that the government had spent so much time and resources in building their capacities as election professionals so they should not be dismissed.
She added that Kriegler report clearly stated they will continue to be nothing more than Senior Assistants to the commissioners.
The Electoral commmision supports reforms in the electoral systems, are willing and able to implement them but holding of office will not interfere with the reforms Kenyans are asking for" Mutindi emphasized.
"We will continue with our services in our offices... we are still working although we are on hunger strike," she said.
"We want to be heard. We don't want blanket condemnation. If there are people to go home it is the decision-makers. We are not answerable to any decision," Mundidi told AFP.
The staff want the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill No. 2 of 2008 withdrawn.
The Bill, which seeks to establish an Interim Independent Electoral Commission to replace the ECK was published last week and is due to be presented to Parliament anytime.
The new panel is expected to oversee a "reform process, register voters afresh, supervise (a) referendum and promote free and fair elections," according to the bill.
The ECK staff are also protesting that should the Bill be passed, it would set a dangerous precedent that would see employees of other constitutional bodies sacked over mistakes made by their superiors.
Elsewhere, the government has received one million shillings from the US government to facilitate the implementation of the Electoral reforms agenda and provide experts to oversee the special tribunal and ensure greater accountability in Government activities.
The reform, if fully implemented will put in place constitutional provisions, laws and mechanisms to deal with the culture of impunity, ethnic tensions and accountability in the country.
US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger speaking on tuesday during a press briefing, said he was confident that the agenda for fundamental reform will be embraced by all adding that this will ensure greater accountability in government and among politicians.
The Ambassador noted that the only way to ensure the reform agenda was transparent and effective was to take into account the opinions of Kenyans through the civil societies in the country.
"Involving the public for their opinion will ensure that there are no loopholes or hidden agendas in the relevant legislation, with respect to the special tribunal and establishment of an independent electoral body "he said.
He said that the move by the cabinet to abolish the current Electoral Commission and form a new independent electoral body was a clear indication that the government was committed to ensuring that reforms were fully and effectively implemented.
" The president and Prime Minister are managing a very complex political situation, and reform agenda raises a host of sensitive issues that must be carefully navigated" he said
The reform agenda is a test for MP's to show whether they represent constructive change in terms of passing relevant legislation for interests of Kenyans and paying a fair amount of tax.
He however noted that though the process of implementing the reform agenda had been slow as most bills are waiting to be signed into law, the judicial and prosecutorial reforms remained immense hurdles that need to be addressed.
He urged parliamentarians, leaders of the coalition government, civil society, the private sector and the media to work together and move beyond strictly ethnic politics to achieve a national approach.
Samahani Wana JF kama nitakuwa nimeleta habari hii wakati ikiwa imeshatoka.
Nimesikia habari TBC kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Uchaguzi ya Kenya Bw. Kivuitu na wenzake wamefikishwa Mhakamani huko Kenya kwa kosa la kuvuruga Uchaguzi.
Huyu anayetembea nchi mbali mbali akipiga kelele kuwa Mugabe ang'olewe, akipona kwenye hii sekeseke ya kimahakama huko kenya nitashangaa sana. Alikuwa a Lead Instigator wa VIOLENCE kule wakati wa election.
at least hii itafungua utaratibu wa kuwajibisha hizi tume ktk Africa!!