In this way each of the branches shall be a check to the others each must be confined to the exercise of its own function and not allowed to encroach upon the. The republic of kenya the constitution says that kenya is a sovereign republic. Separation of powers and protection of human rights in the context of the new constitution in zimbabwe. Published by the national council for law reporting with the authority of the attorney general. The doctrine of separation of powers precludes the courts from impermissibly assuming the functions that fall within the domain of the executive. A perspective on the doctrine of the separation of powers based on. Devolution under the constitution of kenya, 2010 comprises of two levels of government. The constitution was presented to the attorney general of kenya on 7 april 2010, officially published on 6 may 2010, and was subjected to a referendum on 4 august 2010. The constitution of the united republic of tanzania 1977 represents a contemporary approach in constitutionalising the doctrine of separation of powers. Kenya s election is next in the series if the fragile coalition survives the period. A compendium on economic and social rights cases under the constitution of kenya, 2010 overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. The constitution does not contemplate a situation where constitutional provisions have to be interpreted against one another.
Powers of congress test questions free pdf file sharing. The geopolitical importance of the region makes the politics of the region to have an international dimension. How the south african constitutional court plotted its course oscar sang 1. Kenyas constitution is an outstanding example of crossfertilization of constitutional ideas. The epic of the doctrine came with the american independence that saw it being operationalised. Parliament makes the law, the executive implements the law while the judiciary interprets the law. The application of international law in kenya under the. The constitution of kenya, 2010 gives the concept of separation of powers a two pronged approach. The previous government suggested that, in its reforms of the judiciary in the. Even though the constitution of kenya has provided a rosy picture of separation of powers, there cannot be absolute separation.
The 2010 edition replaced the 1963 independence constitution. Vile also distinguished between what he called the pure doctrine of separation of powers, which in his view is a complete separation of powers, and its modification essentially by the fathers of the american constitution. In the zambian doctrine of separation of powers, each branch of government has a distinct role to play and no one branch should interfere in the others function. Nov 19, 2014 kenya now has a more reformed judiciary that is independent, robust and functional. Second, it seeks to establish the extent to which kenya s reconstructed judiciary has juridically implemented the judicialization framework of the constitution of kenya 2010. The separation of powers is a representation for the governance of a state. This contains far reaching commitments to a wide range of rights and an ambitious vision of social equity and has the real potential to address historical injustices and grievances. The subject of separation of powers has arisen over and over again in kenya since 2010 when kenya instituted a new constitution.
Analysis of the 2010 constitutional provisions on the presidency stephen mutula 1 2 wilson k. Constitution of kenya the constitution of kenya chapter 1 the republic of kenya 1. God bless kenya main body of the constitution chapter one sovereignty of the people and supremacy of this constitution sole part 1. Chapter twothe republic 4declaration of the republic.
Devolution and access to services 1 the territory of kenya is divided into the counties specified in the first schedule. The separation of powers is a model for the governance of a state. The constitution states taht all sovereign power belongs to the people of kenya. The constitution of kenya 2010 promotes independence of the arms of the government by clearly outlining the functions of the executive under. Separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, and good. Koma 3 school of social science, university of kwazulunatal this article is an attempt to establish a link between the abuse of power in the presidency, and how this manipulation has been. These topic pages provide a quick overview and easy access to all content that can be found on ace for any give topic of interest weather encyclopaedia files, electoral materials, comparative data, consolidated replies, case studies, or other. Devolution in kenyas new constitution in 2010, on the cusp of kenyas new constitutional dispensation, the society for international development sid embarked on a project called thinking, talking and informing kenyas democratic change framework.
Further, the structural arrangement of the constitution provides for clear separation of powers, checks and balances. All members of parliament are elected for a fiveyear term. The doctrine of separation of powers jaba shadrack. Article 174 of the constitution provides that one of the key objectives of devolution is to promote social and economic development and provide proximate, easily accessible services throughout kenya. The passing of the constitution of kenya of 2010 and its promulgation on. Second, it seeks to establish the extent to which kenyas reconstructed judiciary has juridically implemented the judicialization framework of the constitution of kenya 2010. Part 2 by dr kiarie mwaura as indicated in the relevant. International center institutional reform in the new constitution of kenya for transitional justice executive summary the passing of the constitution of kenya of 2010 and its promulgation on august 27, 2010, heralds the deep desire of kenyans, as individuals and communities, to live in a society that respects and. Abuses of power in the kenyan constitution free essay.
Constitution of kenya 2010 wikisource, the free online. Will kenyas 2010 constitution work for women and children. The application of international law in kenya under the 2010 constitution. The constitution was promulgated on 27 august 2010.
Many a times we say ghana practices separation of powers but taking a look to the 1992 constitution i ask myself, do we truly practice this concept. What is most disturbing is the courts interpretation of section 66 against the abstract 19 id at 80. Broadly stated, the objective of the project was both historical and. Under article 129 the executives authority is said to be derived from the people. Under this model, a states government is divided into branches, each with separate, independent powers and responsibilities so that powers of one branch are not in conflict with those of the other branches.
In the last decade the concept of a separation of powers has evident in a number of policy initiatives. Separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, and. Under the 2010 constitution, kenya adopted a presidential system of government in order to achieve a sharper separation of powers between the executive body and the legislature and reduce the influence of the former over the latter. In eritrea, the constitutional debate will have to resume one way or another. The extent of judicial independence and separation of.
The judiciary is under attack from the executive and the legislature. Laws of kenya the constitution of kenya, 2010 published by the national council for law reporting with the authority of the attorneygeneral. The republic of kenya shall be a multiparty democratic state. Dec 14, 2008 in the sudan the referendum that determines whether the south should separate is due for 2010 11. Decentralisation of executive, administrative and parliamentary powers under the constitution 2010 7. Separation of powers and federalism are interlocking elements in a thoroughgoing philosophy of the division of power.
A perspective on the doctrine of the separation of powers. Kenyas new constitution was enacted on 27th august 2010 replacing the old one that had been in place since kenyas independence in 1963. Under the 2010 constitution, kenya opted for a presidential system of government in order to achieve a sharper separation of powers between, and reduce the influence of, the. The constitution of kenya was promulgated on 27 august 2010 after a period of. Separation of powers and protection of human rights in the. At the national level, kenya has a bicameral parliament consisting of the national assembly and the senate. Is separation of powers as provided in kenyan legislation being practiced.
The constitution of kenya 2010 divides the territory of kenya into two governments made up of 47 counties, commonly referred to as the national and county governments. Devolution is one of the most transformative changes to kenyas governance system brought about by the constitution of kenya, 2010. With the promulgation of the constitution of kenya in 2010 there came clearer the separation of powers from the previous more powerful constitutional dispensation that had a president had unfettered powers to influence the legislature and judiciary. The constitution of kenya was the final document resulting from the revision of the harmonized draft constitution of kenya written by the committee of experts initially released to the public on 17 november 2009 so that the public could debate the document and then parliament could decide whether to subject it to a referendum in june 2010.
The new constitution was approved by 67% of kenyan voters. The internal concerns the ways in which the constitution distributes power, the institutions it sets up for different tasks, modes of accountability, and methods for the enforcement of the constitution, including respect for and. In it, one can see montesquieus idea of separation of powers, american presidentialism embodied in the united states constitution. In terms of the constitution the ndpp is the authority mandated to prosecute crime, while the commissioner of police is the authority mandated to manage and control the saps.
Kenyas 2010 constitution uct faculty of health sciences. Kenya had tried various means to purge the judiciary even through the famous radical surgery, it could not since the whole system of government was corrupt. The public seal of kenya shall be such device as may be prescribed by or under an. The evolution of the political question doctrine article pdf available march 2015 with 5,585 reads how we measure reads. Under the 2010 constitution, kenya opted for a presidential system of government in order to achieve a sharper separation of powers between, and reduce the influence of, the executive body over the legislature. Essentially, there is no strict separation of powers under the constitution of tanzania, both in principle and practice. The paper seeks to compare separation of powers in the repealed and new constitution with its effect to the counties. Third, the work examines the dangers of judicialization of 1 constitution of kenya 2010, articles 48, 1959, 10, 1 and 4. Pdf separation of powers in contemporary kenya walters.
Honouring those who heroically struggled to bring freedom and justice to our land. The constitution of kenya 2010 promotes independence of the arms of the government by clearly outlining the functions of the executive under chapter 9. The doctrine of separation of power is said to be a bourgeois politicallegal theory that claims that state power is not a single entity but rather a composite of different governmental functions i. Three months later, on 4 august, it was approved by over 67 per cent of the. The constitution is the supreme law of the republic and binds all persons and state organs at both levels of government and the defence of this constitution. Constitution of kenya, 2010 8 part 3functions and powers of county governments 186respective functions and powers of national and county governments. Klrc has an additional mandate of preparing new legislation to give effect to the constitution. State power has been separated and dispersed both vertically and horizontally 20. Constitutional law ii llb i part 1 is taught by prof ben sihanya. President museveni will make another attempt to get a new lease on power.
An overview congressional research service 1 introduction congresss role and operation in national politics is fundamentally shaped by the design and structure of the governing institutions in the constitution. The public seal of kenya shall be such device as may be prescribed by or under an act of parliament. Introduction in the last few years, more and more nations have enacted new democratic constitutions. Constitution of kenya, 2010 2 the constitution of kenya, 2010 arrangement of articles preamble. Negash1 synopsis by the end of 2008 the news that is coming out of the horn of africa region is getting more alarming and complex. International center institutional reform in the new constitution of kenya for transitional justice executive summary the passing of the constitution of kenya of 2010 and its promulgation on august 27, 2010, heralds the deep desire of kenyans, as individuals. Civic education and campaigns for or against the proposed constitution are expected to take place in the period before 4th august 2010 when the referendum is to be held. Nov 11, 2018 kenya consists of the territory and territorial waters comprising kenya on the effective date, and any additional territory and territorial waters as defined by an act of parliament. Every legal system requires rules that specify the major institutions and officials of government, and determine which of them is to do 7 see, the preamble of the constitution of kenya, 2010. Kenya institutional reform in the new constitution of kenya. Under this model, a states government is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict. Sovereignty of the people 1 all sovereign power belongs to the people of kenya and shall be exercised only in accordance with this constitution.
The constitution has given rise to debate about the extent to which courts may intervene in the conduct of the affairs of other arms of government, spawned by accusations by other branches of government, especially the legislature that the judiciary is exceeding its. In uganda, president museveni will make another attempt to get a new lease on power. Kenya s constitution is an outstanding example of crossfertilization of constitutional ideas. Check out constitute to read, search, and compare the worlds constitutions. National values and principles of governance kenya. The promulgation of the constitution, 2010 has enabled judicial reform towards administration of justice within the doctrine of separation of powers. An analysis of the emerging tensions between parliament and the judiciary kabathi antony gathitu g62804532012 a thesis submitted to the university of nairobi law school in partial fulfilment of the degree of masters of laws llm supervisor dr juliet okoth, lecturer. Institutional reform in the new constitution of kenya ictj. Separation of powers in kenyas devolved administrative.
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