Source: The Star
THE stalemate surrounding the gender parity rule will only be solved by the Supreme Court, the chairman of the Commission on Administrative Justice Otiende Amollo said at the weekend.
Amollo said the court's rule will be used to give directions on how the elections will be conducted without breaking the law as the government embarks in solving the impasse.
His sentiments came after Chairs Forum, which brings together chairpersons of various constitutional commissions, directed Attorney General Githu Muigai to seek the advisory of the Supreme Court on the issue. Amollo said similar commissions including the one he chairs will be enjoined in the petition as interested parties.
He was speaking during a private function at Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier's Ahono village, Gem district where presidential hopeful Peter Kenneth was in attendance. Amollo noted that the resolution was arrived at following persistent difficulty in solving the crisis and the subsequent withdrawal of the constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2011.
The Ombudsman expressed fears that parliament might not have sufficient time to debate over the bill and its subsequent passage adding that Supreme Court's proposal was the only way forward. The Bill was withdrawn from parliament last week after MPs failed to pass it due to lack of quorum.
However, Kenneth said mechanisms should be put in place to redefine the process of achieving the targeted gender rule arguing that as the constitution stands now, it is difficult to pass the bill.