President Mwai Kibaki has appointed a Special Action Committee to look into and address specific concerns raised by the Muslim community with regard to alleged harassment and/or discrimination in the process of the application of the law particularly as regards to security issues.
A gazette notice issued this evening indicated that the special committee will hold office for a period of four months and will be chaired by Eng. A. M. H. Sharawe while Amb. Amina Mohammed will be the secretary.
Members of the committee include Attorney General Amos Wako, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal security, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of State for Immigration, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Other members are Sheikh Abu Hamza, Amb. Yunis Maalim Mahat, Mr. Hassan Lakicha and Mr. Shiraz Magan.
The functions of the special committee will be to:
1. Receive individual complaints of alleged harassment and/or discrimination in the treatment of persons who profess the Islamic faith with regard to security operations.
2. Ascertain whether there is merit in a complaint and thereafter to act on the complaint appropriately, which may include channeling it to the responsible department of Government for action.
3. Inquire into allegations of wrongful or illegal denial of entry into or exit out of Kenya by Kenyan citizens who profess the Islamic faith.
4. Take immediate action to solve problems encountered by Muslims.
5. Oversee, co-ordinate, monitor and follow up specific action on identified problem cases.
6. Review regulations, codes of conduct, processes and procedures in the public service and recommend changes necessary to avoid or reduce similar complaints.
7. Prepare advisory opinions or proposals on appropriate remedial action to be taken by the Permanent Secretaries or Chief Executives of responsible Ministries or public bodies.
8. Recommend appropriate policy and legislative reforms.
The committee shall prepare and submit, to the President, an initial progress report on its interventions within one month from the date of its appointment. The initial report will make recommendations for longer term interventions in regard to administrative, legal and policy issues and set out a time-bound action plan for the implementation of the said recommendations.
Meanwhile, President Kibaki has appointed Dr. Titus Tunje Kadere as Chairman of the Kenya Coconut Development Authority for a period of three years and Mr. Charles Musyoki Muoki as Chairman of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.
