Amkeni Wakenya

Civil Societies to Participate in the GJLOS

Posted at Mar 20, 2011

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have committed themselves to collaborate with other partners in the design and implementation of the next phase of the Governance, Justice, Law and Order Sector Reforms (GJLOS).
  Speaking during a Consultative Meeting  involving 50 CSOs  and the GJLOS  Reform Coordinating  Department, held  on 15th March, 2011  in  Sankara  Hotel in Nairobi, CSOs noted  that the sector is crucial to the fundamental stability of the country as they  encompass all Governance institutions including  the  police, judiciary,  prisons, state  Law   and prosecution departments among other key institutions.

The meeting organized by UNDP Amkeni  Wakenya  in conjunction with the GJLOS Reform  Coordination Department, under the Ministry of  Justice, National Cohesion and  Constitutional Affairs(MOJNCCA)  noted that the new  Constitution  has  given  impetus   to  reforms in the sector.

The GJLOS  Reform Programme  was initially started  in  2003  by the  then  National  Rainbow Coalition  (NARC) Government  (that  came into  power  when the  euphoria  for reforms  was at the  apex. The Programme supported  by a group  of Development  Partners was   implemented  by over 40 government  Departments in the Office of the  President, Office of the Vice  President  and Home  Affairs,  MOJNNCA, the  State  Law office  among other.

According to Prof. Karuti Kanyinga of South Consulting and Lecturer at the University of Nairobi, who is leading in developing a policy framework for the sector, various problems had impeded the success of the Programme. Under its human rights and democracy component, success had been constrained as the culture of human rights had been completely lacking in Government. However, over the period of implementation, Civil Servants were more aware about human rights but the challenge remained the infusion of human rights in their work.
Impunity had also impacted negatively in other areas such as the rule of law, promotion of transparency, accountability and integrity. Unfair and discriminative application of the law had also affected the gains that could have been achieved under the access to justice sector.

Jane Serwanga, a Programme Officer from FIDA (K) however noted that GJLOs has had its successes. She called upon all partners including Government, Civil Society, Development Partners and the Citizens to build on these gains in the new phase.

Moderating the discussions, Gilbert Onyango of South Bay Consulting who had coordinated civil society engagement in the previous   phase of GJLOS Programme called for the development of a clear GJLOS vision which all Kenyans can relate to.

Mr.  Francis Maina, the Acting Director of the GJLOS Reforms Coordinating Department assured   Civil Society Organizations that their input will be taken on board during the design of the next phase   and development of crucial sector policy papers.   

For more details contact Rebecca Muniu of UNDP Amkeni Wakenya on 020- 341397 or Francis Maina GJLOS Programme tel; 020-2224029