President William Ruto on Friday made new appointments to the government.
In a gazette notice dated October 5, 2023, the President named Collins Odote Oloo as the new Non-Executive Chairperson of the Council of Legal Education.
Oloo will serve in the position for a period of three years.
In the same notice, Ruto re-constituted the Advisory Committee on the Power of Mercy, appointing seven new members.
They include Lorna Mutoro Mumelo, Patrick Musau Musila, John Kutswa Olaka, Dr. Edward Kibiwott Boor, Rev. Humpton Rogers Namu, Bishar Maalim Abdullahi, and Jane Wanjiru Kuria.
The Power of Mercy is an Act housed under the Constitution in Article 133.
The Advisory Committee on the Power of Mercy includes the Attorney General, the CS responsible for correctional services and at least five other members.
The five are not supposed to be state officers or in public service.
Following the selection, the Parliament is expected to enact a law to provide for a tenure for the members, the procedure of the Committee and the criteria to be used in formulating of its advice.
"The Advisory Committee may take into account the views of the victims of the offence in respect of which it is considering making recommendations to the President," the Constitution adds.
Following its advice, the President may exercise the Power of Mercy either by granting a free or conditional pardon to a person convicted of an offence, postponing the carrying out of a punishment, either for a specified or indefinite period.
Other ways include substituting a less severe form of punishment or remitting all or part of a punishment.