NAIROBI, Feb. 6 (HANA)--The Kenyan government on Thursday approved the Witness Protection Bill for submission to Parliament to help creaet agency to protect witnesses in the country’s post-election violence trials.
A statement issued following a cabinet meeting in Nairobi said the Bill proposes the establishment of an autonomous agency for the protection of prosecution witnesses, especially in major offences.
“The Witness Protection Bill borrows heavily from best practices in other countries. Once in place, Kenya will be the third country in Africa to have such an agency,” the statement said.
Sources said the Witness Protection Agency’s wide-ranging powers will assure the security of potential witness against the masterminds of the violence and other related cases, among them corruption.
The decision to push through the Witness Protection (Amendment) Bill of 2009 is the government’s response to international and local demands for a water-tight law that makes it possible for witnesses to give information without fear of reprisals.
ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has written to both the government and the Pre-Trial Chamber, expressing his concern about the threats.
The Bill, still in draft form, proposes radical changes to the current Witness Protection Act passed in 2006. It seeks to dissolve the Witness Protection Unit and replace it with the independent Witness Protection Agency.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved the National Construction Authority Bill 2009 for presentation to Parliament. The Bill proposes the establishment of a National Construction Authority.
The mandate of the authority will be the legislation and accreditation of contractors in the construction industry.
The authority will register and accredit the various players in the industry including skilled workers and supervisors.
The authority will also supervise, promote and stimulate growth of the construction industry, enhance capacity building and standardization of building materials. Enditem
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