Verbatim text
applies to appointments, discipline and the removal of persons from
office in the National Police Service.
Parliamentary Select Committee.
4.There shall be a select committee of Parliament to be known
as the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee which shall
be responsible for overseeing the implementation of this Constitution
and which, among other things—
(a) shall receive regular reports from the Commission on the 179
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
Implementation of the Constitution on the implementation of
this Constitution including reports concerning—
(i) the preparation of the legislation required by this
Constitution and any challenges in that regard;
(ii) the process of establishing the new commissions;
(iii) the process of establishing the infrastructure necessary
for the proper operation of each county including
progress on locating offices and assemblies and
establishment and transfers of staff;
(iv) the devolution of powers and functions to the counties
under the legislation contemplated in section 15 of this
Schedule; and
(v)any impediments to the process of
implementing this Constitution;
(b) coordinate with the Attorney-General, the Commission on the
Implementation of the Constitution and relevant parliamentary
committees to ensure the timely introduction and passage of
the legislation required by this Constitution; and
(c) take appropriate action on the reports including addressing
any problems in the implementation of this Constitution.
Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution.
5.(1) There is established the Commission for the
Implementation of the Constitution.
(2) The Commission consists of—
(a) a chairperson; and
(b) eight other members.
(3) The members of the Commission shall—
(a) include persons with experience in public administration,
human rights and government; and
(b) not include any person who served as a member of the
Committee of Experts appointed under the Constitution of
Kenya Review Act, 2008.
(4) Articles 248 to 254 apply to the Commission.
(5) After the Commission on Revenue Allocation has been
established, the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution 180
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
shall send a notice of its meetings to that Commission, and a member
of the Commission on Revenue Allocation shall be permitted to attend
and participate in any such meeting, but shall not vote.
(6) The functions of the Commission shall be to—
(a) monitor, facilitate and oversee the development of legislation
and administrative procedures required to implement this
Constitution;
(b) co-ordinate with the Attorney-General and the Kenya Law
Reform Commission in preparing, for tabling in Parliament,
the legislation required to implement this Constitution;
(c) report regularly to the Constitutional Implementation Oversight
Committee on—
(i) progress in the implementation of this Constitution; and
(ii) any impediments to its implementation; and
(d) work with each constitutional commission to ensure that the
letter and spirit of this Constitution is respected.
(7) The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution
shall stand dissolved five years after it is established or at the full
implementation of this Constitution as determined by Parliament,
whichever is sooner, but the National Assembly may, by resolution,
extend its life.
PART 2—EXISTING OBLIGATIONS, LAWS AND RIGHTS
Rights, duties and obligations of the State.
6.Except to the extent that this Constitution expressly provides
to the contrary, all rights and obligations, however arising, of the
Government or the Republic and subsisting immediately before the
effective date shall continue as rights and obligations of the national
government or the Republic under this Constitution.
Existing laws.
7.(1) All law in force immediately before the effective date
continues in force and shall be construed with the alterations,
adaptations, qualifications and exceptions necessary to bring it into
conformity with this Constitution.
(2) If, with respect to any particular matter—
(a) a law that was in effect immediately before the effective date
assigns responsibility for that matter to a particular State 181
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
organ or public officer; and
(b) a provision of this Constitution that is in effect assigns
responsibility for that matter to a different State organ or
public officer,
the provisions of this Constitution prevail to the extent of the conflict.
Existing land holdings and agreements relating to natural
resources.
8.(1) On the effective date, any freehold interest in land in Kenya
held by a person who is not a citizen shall revert to the Republic of
Kenya to be held on behalf of the people of Kenya, and the State shall
grant to the person a ninety-nine year lease at a peppercorn rent.
(2) On the effective date, any other interest in land in Kenya
greater than a ninety-nine year lease held by a person who is not a
citizen shall be converted to a ninety-nine year lease.
(3) The provisions of Article 71 shall not take effect until the
legislation contemplated under that Article is enacted.
PART 3—NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
Elections and by-elections.
9.(1) The first elections for the President, the National Assembly,
the Senate, county assemblies and county governors under this
Constitution shall be held at the same time, within sixty days after the
dissolution of the National Assembly at the end of its term.
(2) Despite subsection (1), if the coalition established under the
National Accord is dissolved and general elections are held before
2012, elections for the first county assemblies and governors shall be
held during 2012.
National Assembly.
10. The National Assembly existing immediately before the
effective date shall continue as the National Assembly for the purposes
of this Constitution for its unexpired term.
The Senate.
11. (1) Until the first Senate has been elected under this
Constitution—
(a) the functions of the Senate shall be exercised by the National
Assembly; and182
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(b) any function or power that is required to be performed or
exercised by both Houses, acting jointly or one after the
other, shall be performed or exercised by the National
Assembly.
(2) Any function or power of the Senate shall, if performed or
exercised by the National Assembly before the date contemplated in
subsection (1), be deemed to have been duly performed or exercised
by the Senate.
The Executive.
12. (1) The persons occupying the offices of President and Prime
Minister immediately before the effective date shall continue to serve
as President and Prime Minister respectively, in accordance with the
former Constitution and the National Accord and Reconciliation Act,
2008 until the first general elections held under this Constitution,
unless they vacate office in terms of the former Constitution and the
Accord.
(2) The persons occupying the offices of Vice-President and
Deputy Prime Minister or holding a position in the Cabinet or as an
Assistant Minister immediately before the effective date shall continue
to serve in accordance with the former Constitution until the first
general elections held under this Constitution unless they vacate or are
removed from office in accordance with the former Constitution and the
National Accord and Reconciliation Act.
(3) A person who was elected President before the effective date
is not eligible to stand for election as President under this Constitution.
Oath of allegiance to this Constitution.
13. On the effective date, the President and any State officer or
other person who had, before the effective date, taken and subscribed
an oath or affirmation of office under the former Constitution, or who is
required to take and subscribe an oath or affirmation of office under
this Constitution, shall take and subscribe the appropriate oath or
affirmation under this Constitution.
PART 4—DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT
Operation of provisions relating to devolved government.
14. (1) The laws contemplated in section 2 (3) ( b) and section 15
may be enacted only after the Commission on the Implementation of
the Constitution and, if it has been established, the Commission on
Revenue Allocation, have been consulted and any recommendations
of the Commissions have been considered by Parliament.183
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(2) The Commissions shall be given at least thirty days to
consider legislation under subsection (1).
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) lapse when the Commission on the
Implementation of the Constitution is dissolved.
Provision for devolution of functions to be made by Act of
Parliament.
15. (1) Parliament shall, by legislation, make provision for the
phased transfer, over a period of not more than three years from the
date of the first election of county assemblies, from the national
government to county governments of the functions assigned to them
under Article 185.
(2) The legislation referred to in subsection (1) shall—
(a) provide for the way in which the national government shall—
(i)facilitate the devolution of power;
(ii)assist county governments in building their capacity to
govern effectively and provide the services for which
they are responsible; and
(iii) support county governments;
(b) establish criteria that must be met before particular functions
are devolved to county governments to ensure that those
governments are not given functions which they cannot
perform;
(c) permit the asymmetrical devolution of powers to ensure that
functions are devolved promptly to counties that have the
capacity to perform them but that no county is given functions
it cannot perform; and
(d) provide mechanisms that ensure that the Commission on the
Implementation of the Constitution can perform its role in
monitoring the implementation of the system of devolved
government effectively.
Division of revenue.
16. Despite Article 217 (1), the first and second determinations of
the basis of the division of revenue among the counties shall be made
at three year intervals, rather than every five years as provided in that
Article.184
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
Provincial Administration.
17. Within five years after the effective date, the national
government shall restructure the system of administration commonly
known as the provincial administration to accord with and respect the
system of devolved government established under this Constitution.
Local Authorities.
18. All local authorities established under the Local Government
Act (Cap. 265) existing immediately before the effective date shall
continue to exist subject to any law that might be enacted.
PART 5—ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
Rules for the enforcement of the Bill of Rights.
19. Until the Chief Justice makes the rules contemplated by
Article 22, the Rules for the enforcement of the fundamental rights and
freedoms under section 84 (6) of the former Constitution shall continue
in force with the alterations, adaptations, qualifications and exceptions
as may be necessary to bring them into conformity with Article 22.
The Judicial Service Commission.
20. (1) The Judicial Service Commission shall be appointed
within sixty days after the effective date and the Commission shall be
deemed to be properly constituted under this Constitution despite the
fact that there may be a vacancy in its membership because of any of
the bodies nominating or electing members have not done so.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the Judicial Service Commission may
not perform its functions unless five members have been appointed.
(3) To ensure continuity in the operation of the Judicial Service
Commission, despite Article 171 (4), when the Commission is first
constituted the following members shall be appointed to serve for three
years only—
(a) the Court of Appeal judge appointed under Article 171 (4) ( c);
(b) the High Court judge appointed under Article 171 (4) ( d);
(c) one of the advocates appointed under Article 171 (4) ( f), to be
identified by the statutory body responsible for the
professional regulation of advocates; and
(d) one of the members appointed by the President under Article
171 (4) (h), to be identified by the President. 185
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(4) Until the Public Service Commission contemplated in Article
233 is established, a person nominated by the Public Service
Commission established under section 106 of the former Constitution
shall serve on the Judicial Service Commission but, when the new
Public Service Commission is established, the person shall cease to
be a member of the Judicial Service Commission and the new Public
Service Commission shall nominate a person to serve on the Judicial
Service Commission.
Establishment of the Supreme Court.
21. (1) The establishment of, and appointment of judges to, the
Supreme Court shall be completed within one year after the effective
date.
(2) Until the Supreme Court is established, the Court of Appeal
shall have jurisdiction over matters assigned to the Supreme Court.
Judicial proceedings and pending matters.
22. All judicial proceedings pending before any court shall
continue to be heard and shall be determined by the same court or a
corresponding court established under this Constitution or as directed
by the Chief Justice or the Registrar of the High Court.
Judges.
23. (1) Within one year after the effective date, Parliament shall
enact legislation, which shall operate despite Article 160, 167 and 168,
establishing mechanisms and procedures for vetting, within a
timeframe to be determined in the legislation, the suitability of all
judges and magistrates who were in office on the effective date to
continue to serve in accordance with the values and principles set out
in Articles 10 and 159.
(2) A removal, or a process leading to the removal, of a judge,
from office by virtue of the operation of legislation contemplated under
subsection (1) shall not be subject to question in, or review by, any
court.
Chief Justice.
24. (1) The Chief Justice in office immediately before the effective
date shall, within six months after the effective date, vacate office and
may choose either—
(a) to retire from the judiciary; or
(b) subject to the process of vetting under section 23, to continue
to serve on the Court of Appeal. 186
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(2) A new Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President,
subject to the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, and after
consultation with the Prime Minister and with the approval of the
National Assembly.
(3) Subsection (2) also applies if there are further vacancies in
the office of Chief Justice before the first general elections under this
Constitution.
PART 6—COMMISSIONS AND OFFICES
Constitutional Commissions.
25. (1) The Commission on the Implementation of the
Constitution and the Commission on Revenue Allocation shall be
constituted within ninety days after the effective date.
(2)The Salaries and Remuneration Commission shall be
constituted within nine months after the effective date.
(3) Until the legislation anticipated in Article 250 is in force, the
persons appointed as members or as chairperson of the Salaries and
Remuneration Commission shall be appointed by the President,
subject to the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, and after
consultation with the Prime Minister and with the approval of the
National Assembly.
The Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission.
26. (1) The commissioners of the Kenya National Commission on
Human Rights appointed under the Kenya National Commission on
Human Rights Act, 2002 (No. 9 of 2002) and the commissioners of the
National Commission on Gender and Development, appointed under
the National Commission on Gender and Development Act, 2003 (No.
13 of 2003) other than the Permanent Secretaries and the
Attorney-General or a representative of the Attorney-General, shall
become members of the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality
Commission for their unexpired term but each shall retain the terms of
service as at the effective date.
(2) The chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on
Human Rights shall be the chairperson of the Kenya National Human
Rights and Equality Commission for the unexpired term of that
chairperson, and the chairperson of the National Commission on
Gender and Development shall be the Vice- Chairperson of the Kenya
National Human Rights and Equality Commission for that
chairperson’s unexpired term. 187
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
The Interim Independent Boundaries Commission.
27. (1) The Boundaries Commission established under the former
Constitution shall continue to function as constituted under that
Constitution and in terms of sections 41B and 41C but—
(a) it shall not determine the boundaries of the counties
established under this Constitution;
(b) it shall determine the boundaries of constituencies and wards
using the criteria mentioned in this Constitution; and
(c) members of the Commission shall be subject to Chapter
Seven of this Constitution.
(3) The requirement in Article 89(2) that a review of constituency
and ward boundaries shall be completed at least twelve months before
a general election does not apply to the review of boundaries
preceding the first elections under this Constitution.
(4) The Boundaries Commission shall ensure that the first review
of constituencies undertaken in terms of this Constitution shall not
result in the loss of a constituency existing on the effective date.
The Interim Independent Electoral Commission and Independent
Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
28. (1) The Interim Independent Electoral Commission
established under section 41 of the former Constitution shall continue
in office in terms of the former Constitution for its unexpired term or
until the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
established under this Constitution is established, whichever is later.
(2) When members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries
Commission are selected, regard shall be had to the need for
continuity and the retention of expertise and experience.
New appointments.
29. (1) The process of appointment of persons to fill vacancies
arising in consequence of the coming into force of this Constitution
shall begin on the effective date and be finalised within one year.
(2) Unless this Schedule prescribes otherwise, when this
Constitution requires an appointment to be made by the President with
the approval of the National Assembly, until after the first elections
under this Constitution, the President shall, subject to the National
Accord and Reconciliation Act, appoint a person after consultation with
the Prime Minister and with the approval of the National Assembly.188
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
PART 6—MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
Citizenship by birth.
30. A Kenyan citizen is a citizen by birth if that citizen—
(1) acquired citizenship under Article 87 or 88 (1) of the former
Constitution; or
(2) would have acquired citizenship if Article 87 (2) read as
follows:
“Every person who, having been born outside Kenya, is on 11th
December, 1963 a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or a
British protected person shall, if his father or mother becomes, or
would but for his or her death have become, a citizen of Kenya by
virtue of subsection (1), become a citizen of Kenya on 12th December,
1963.”
Existing offices.
31. (1) Unless this Schedule provides otherwise, a person who
immediately before the effective date, held or was acting in an office
established by the former Constitution shall on the effective date
continue to hold or act in that office under this Constitution for the
unexpired period, if any, of the term of the person.
(2) Subject to subsection (7) and section 24, a person who
immediately before the effective date held or was acting in a public
office established by law, so far as is consistent with this Constitution,
shall continue to hold or act in that office as if appointed to that position
under this Constitution.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not affect the powers
conferred on any person or authority under this Constitution or
legislation to abolish offices or remove persons from an office
contemplated in subsection (2).
(4) If a person has vacated an office that the person held before
the effective date, and that office is retained or established under this
Constitution, the person may, if qualified, again be appointed, elected,
or otherwise selected to hold that office in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution, except to the extent that this
Constitution expressly provides otherwise.
(5) The functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be
performed by the Attorney-General until a Director of Public
Prosecutions is appointed under this Constitution. 189
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(6) The functions of the Controller of Budget shall be performed
by the Auditor-General until a Controller of Budget is appointed under
this Constitution.
(7) Despite subsection (1), the Attorney-General and the
Auditor-General shall continue in office for a period of no more than
twelve months after the effective date and the subsequent
appointments to those offices shall be made under this Constitution.
Pensions, gratuities and other benefits.
32. The law applicable to pensions in respect of holders of
constitutional offices under the former Constitution shall be either the
law that was in force at the date on which those benefits were granted
or any law in force at a later date that is not less favourable to the
person.
Succession of institutions, offices, assets and liabilities.
33. An office or institution established under this Constitution is
the legal successor of the corresponding office or institution,
established under the former Constitution or by an Act of Parliament in
force immediately before the effective date, whether known by the
same or a new name.
Currency.
34. Nothing in Article 231 (4) affects the validity of coins and
notes issued before the effective date.190
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
[Subsidiary]
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA
THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA REVIEW ACT, 2008
(No 9 of 2008)
THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF KENYA
PROMULGATION
By His Excellency the Honorable Mwai Kibaki, President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya.
WHEREAS the people of Kenya, in exercise of their sovereign right to
replace the Constitution, ratified the proposed New Constitution of Kenya through a
referendum held on the 4th August, 2010, in accordance with the provisions of section 47A
of the Constitution of Kenya and Part V of the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, 2008;
AND WHEREAS the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Act, 2008 and the
Constitution of Kenya Review Acts of 1997 and 2008, as variously amended, provided a
legal framework for the comprehensive review and replacement of the current Constitution
by the people of Kenya, which ensured that the review process—
(a) accommodated the diversity of the Kenyan people, including socio economic
status, race, ethnicity, gender, religious faith, age, occupation, learning, persons
with disabilities and the disadvantaged and was guided by respect for the
universal principles of human rights, gender equity and democracy;
(b) provided the people of Kenya an opportunity to actively, freely and meaningfully
participate in generating and debating proposals to alter the Constitution;
(c) resulted in a new Constitution which faithfully reflected the wishes of the people of
Kenya;
AND WHEREAS for the last two decades, the people of Kenya have yearned for a
new Constitution which—
(a) guarantees peace, national unity and integrity of the Republic of Kenya in order to
safeguard the well-being of the people of Kenya;
(b) establishes a free and democratic system of Government that ensures good
governance, constitutionalism, the rule of law, human rights and gender equity;
(c) recognizes and demarcates divisions of responsibility among the various state
organs, including the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, so as to create
checks and balances between them and to ensure accountability of the
Government and its officers to the people of Kenya;191
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
[Subsidiary]
(d) promotes the people’s participation in the governance of the country through
democratic, free and fair elections and the devolution and exercise of power and
further ensures the full participation of the people in the management of public
affairs;
(e) respects the pride of the people of Kenya in their ethnic, cultural and religious
diversity and their determination to live in peace and unity as one indivisible
sovereign nation;
(f) ensures the provision of basic needs of all Kenyans through the establishment of
an equitable framework for economic growth and equitable access to national
resources;
(g) strengthens national integration and unity and commits Kenyans to peaceful
resolution of national issues through dialogue and consensus;
NOW THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 47A (6) of
the Constitution of Kenya and section 43A of the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, 2008, I,
Mwai Kibaki, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Kenya, declare that the Constitution set out in the Schedule shall be the new Constitution of
Kenya with effect from the 27th August, 2010.
SCHEDULE—(The Constitution of Kenya ).192
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
[Subsidiary]
L.N. 72/2005, L.N. 134/2010, L.N. 104/2011.
PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS
DELEGATION OF POWERS
IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by Article 157 (9) of the Constitution of Kenya,
the Director of Public Prosecutions orders that all powers vested in him by Article 157 (4)
and (6) of the Constitution shall be exercised by the persons for the time being holding the
offices specified in the Schedule, acting in accordance with his general or special
instructions.
SCHEDULE
Chief Public Prosecutor
Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor
Chief State Counsel
Special Public Prosecutor
Senior Deputy Prosecution Counsel
Deputy Prosecution Counsel
Assistant Deputy Public Prosecutor/Senior Principal State Counsel/Senior Principal
Prosecution Counsel
Principal State Counsel/Principal Prosecution Counsel
Senior State Counsel/Senior Prosecution Counsel
State Counsel/Prosecution Counsel.
This Notice shall be deemed to have come into operation on the 20th June, 2011.
Legal Notice No. 134 of 2010 is revoked.
193