Page 185

CGH13_ebook

Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Kenya Ministry: Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs The new constitution promulgated on 27 August 2010 provided for an independent judiciary and a Supreme Court. The chief justice is the President of the Supreme Court, which comprises the chief justice, deputy chief justice and five other judges. It has sole jurisdiction over cases concerning presidential elections and it is the final court of appeal. The chief justice is the head of the judiciary, and is appointed by the President of Kenya on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, subject to the approval of the National Assembly. Judges are also appointed by the President with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. The High Court deals with the most serious cases under civil and criminal law, as well as appeals from the lower courts. The High Court is based in Nairobi and has resident judges in cities and towns across the country, including Eldoret, Kisumu, Meru, Mombasa and Nakuru. Less serious cases are heard by magistrates. Appeals from the High Court are heard by the Kenya Court of Appeal which comprises at least 12 judges. The new constitution recognises Kadhi courts to administer Islamic Law. Government and politics Last elections: 4 March 2013 (presidential, legislative and local) Next elections: 2018 (presidential, legislative and local) Head of State: President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta Head of Government: the President Ruling party: Jubilee Coalition At his third attempt, in a relatively peaceful contest, Mwai Kibaki, the candidate of the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), comfortably won the presidential election in December 2002, with 62.2 per cent of the votes, while Uhuru Kenyatta (the son of Kenya’s first President), standing for the Kenya African National Union (KANU), received 31.3 per cent. The National Rainbow Coalition gained a substantial majority in the parliamentary elections, winning 125 seats; KANU took 64 and FORD–People 14 (Forum for the Restoration of Democracy). The Commonwealth observer group present commended the Electoral Commission, said that the elections ‘represented a major improvement on previous such exercises’ and described the electoral process as credible. In a referendum in November 2005 a proposed new constitution was decisively rejected. Opposition to this WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY, KENYA The Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) is the lead agency in the regulation and management of water resources in Kenya. It was established in 2003 pursuant to the enactment of Water Act 2002 which clearly separated the functions of water resources management from water services provision. Its objective is to ensure rational, effective management of water resources, and equitable access for the various competing uses. Current projects • Establishing Water Resource (WR) Monitoring Stations nationally • Continuously collecting and analysing WR data • Developing local community capacity and collaborating in the management of water catchment areas through the Water Resource Users Association (WRUAs) framework • Carrying out groundwater assessment (aquifer mapping) • Spearheading the fi nalisation of the National Water Master Plan (2030) Our focus: Ensuring equity in WR allocation by Accounting for Every Drop Contact us Eng. John P. Olum, CEO Tel: +254 202 73 2291, 272 9048 P.O. BOX 45250-00100 E-mail: wrma@wrma.or.ke www.wrma.or.ke


CGH13_ebook
To see the actual publication please follow the link above