PRESS RELEASE BY THE KENYAN COMMUNITY ABROAD ( KCA), SEPTEMBER 14TH 2007.

KCA statement on the way forward for a clean and just country

The Kenyan Community Abroad (KCA) takes extreme exception to the passage in parliament of a clause in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill 2007 that bars The Kenya Anti Corruption commission (KACC) from investigating corruption cases that predates its establishment in year 2003.

KCA urges The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to review the legality of the action by parliament and take the necesary steps should their action be a breach of the law or constitution of the land.

The Bill, surprisingly passed by MPs, is completely out of line with the premise on which majority members of the ninth parliament were elected, namely, to put an end to endemic corruption. KCA calls upon President Kibaki not to acquiesce to the Bill. The government of President Kibaki was launched to power on a promise of revamping the economy through probity in government and guarding against all corrupt practices, which corrupt practices have gone under his very watch. We urge President Kibaki to redeem his credibility by refusing to sign this Bill into law.

Further, we propose the following steps:

I. The report of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee( PAC) on the Anglo Leasing scandal be adopted and implemented.
II. The report of the Ndungu Land Commission be adopted and implemented.
III. The report of the Bosire Commission of the Goldenberg scandal be adopted and implemented.
IV. The report of the Akiwumi Commission on tribal land clashes be adopted and implemented.
V. The Kenya Anti Corruption commission (KACC) be given prosecutorial powers.
VI. The appointment of commissioners to KACC be open to competitive international recruitment and be endorsed by at least two thirds of all sitting members of parliament in a given session.
VII. The President begins the process of establishing a national Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission dating back to independence till today.

We are not holding brief for KACC. We in fact remain alert to some of KACC`s structural weaknesses and the slow pace, especially in respect to concluding investigations in Anglo Leasing and Goldenberg. What we are calling for is the strengthening of the commission to wean it off competing political interests.

And as the country is already swept up in an election fever, KCA urges the electorate to choose their civic, parliamentary and presidential candidates very wisely. Further, KCA states very categorically that she will be neutral in this election, but will give her unstinting support to all Kenyans who stand up for a clean, transparent and accountable country .

Signed:
Jared Oluoch,
Assistant Secretary
For:KCA Executive
Washington, DC.

CC: KCA Executive The Law Society of Kenya.