PETITION LODGED IN HIGH COURT TO PROTEST NEW APPOINTEES TO THE KENYA CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCIL
- Apr 16, 2023
- 2 min read
Clive Ayuko
Nairobi, Kenya 16th April 2023
The Appointment of Ms. Oumar Omar, Ms. Emily Mwende Waita, Dr. George Odera Outa and Mr. John Kioli to the National Climate Change Council following nomination of the said names to the Senate in order paper 14th February 2023 by his Excellency the President has elicited angry reaction from a section of civil society groups who believe the process was flawed.
Article 5 of the National Climate Change Act 2016 the civil society groups argue establishes the National Climate Change Council who draw representation from both the State and the Non State Actors. Article 7 of the Act stipulates for the selection and nomination criteria to become a member of the National Climate Change Council expressly providing for the nomination of a representative of the civil society drawn from the most representative registered national Umbrella Association of civil societies working on matters climate change.
The Appointment of the said individuals the groups decry was flawed and the due process in the appointment was not followed in accordance to the Rio Conventions which Kenya is signatory to and most explicit Principle 10 of the Rio convention which calls for Public Participation in Environmental decision making and Access to information.
As such to the groups it remains unclear who among those recently appointed is a representative of the Civil Society representing the National Umbrella Association representing Civil societies, the process followed in the appointment of the said representative and lack of public participation in the appointment process.
In light of the same the groups have called for the revocation of appointment of the individuals representing civil society groups working on climate change, ordered for a consultative process to iron out any areas of concern and a disclosure of the appointment process acknowledging provisions within the constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Climate Change Act of 2016.
A petition by Civil Society Groups and Indigenous communities is currently lodged in the High Court to challenge the same with the hearing set for tomorrow Monday 16th April 2023.
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