Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured that the Kenya Kwanza administration will safeguard the independence of constitutional commissions and independent offices.
He said President William Ruto’s government is committed to support and empower the offices as they discharge their mandates.
"It is the intention of the government to facilitate the work of constitutional commissions and independent offices. The legacy of the President will building strong institutions," the DP said.
He spoke to the media after meeting members of Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices at his Karen official residence.
Gachagua noted that Ruto has increased budgetary allocation to the Judiciary from Sh18.8 billion to Sh22.9 billion in the next financial year.
He said the move is in line with Kenya Kwanza’s pledge to strengthen and institutionalise judicial independence.
The DP announced that the Executive will go on a retreat with constitutional commissions, independent offices and county governments in August to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation.
On May 23, the Kenya Land Alliance (KLA) termed as unconstitutional Ruto’s pronouncement on the constitutional mandate of the National Land Commission (NLC).
The lobby accused Ruto of interfering with the NLC saying his remarks were in bad faith and an attack against the independent institution.
"The President’s pronouncement is a direct move to undermine principles of checks and balances, erode democratic norms and pose a threat to integrity and independence of crucial institutions," KLA chief executive officer Faith Allube said.
The President had a day earlier purported to strip the NLC of its mandate to evaluate and value land for compensation.
Ruto said NLC was receiving bribes to overvalue private land and earn the owners underserved high compensation.
Constitutional commissions and independent offices were established to secure specific constitutional objectives. The objectives are stated in Article 249(1).
They are meant to protect the sovereignty of the people, secure the observance by all State organs of democratic values and principles; and promote constitutionalism.
Article 249(3) states that Parliament shall allocate adequate funds to enable each commission and independent office perform its functions and the budget of each commission and independent office shall be a separate vote.