Robinson Githae, Assistant Minister for Justice and...

Robinson Githae, Assistant Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Kenya, in a meeting with Hands Off Cain officials in Rome, ensured his country's commitment to the abolition of the death penalty and Kenya's support for a moratorium resolution at the UN General Assembly.
In talks with HOC General Secretary Sergio D'Elia, Treasurer Elisabetta Zamparutti and Board Members Carmen Colitti, Antonio Stango and Anna Zammit, Minister Githae said the country is determined to abolish the death penalty with the approval of the new constitution.
A draft constitution is currently under scrutiny by a National Constitutional Conference. This assembly comprises 600 delegates including all 222 Members of Parliament, representatives of districts, churches, civil society and 'special interest' groups including the army, police, youths, the elderly, women and the disabled.
"It is a people-driven process. Delegates represent each sector of Kenyan society and have consulted public opinion," Githae said.
The conference has convened once in April and is due to resume deliberations on the draft constitution on August 17. A 50% majority is required for the approval of constitutional norms."We hope that in this meeting all delegates will agree on a final draft that will then be presented to Parliament."
Under current Kenyan law only Parliament can approve the new constitution, but the legislative act setting up the National Constitutional Conference gives Parliament the choice of approving or rejecting the final draft as a whole, but no power of amendment.
The draft constitution has a provision for the abolition of the death penalty and other forms of cruel and inhuman punishment, such as torture.
"When we discussed this provision in April, I did not hear a single delegate voice dissent," Githae said.
A Hands Off Cain delegation will shortly visit Kenya accompanied by European and Italian Members of Parliament to meet Justice Minister Kiraitu Murungi, who had twice moved abolition bills in Parliament as shadow justice minister.
"We also hope to meet President Mwai Kibaki to whom we dedicated the 2003 report on the death penalty worldwide in recognition of his government's commitment to the abolition of the death penalty and his significant gesture in commuting 195 death sentences and releasing 28 death row inmates last February," D'Elia said.
The commutation effectively emptied death row, Githae said, explaining that these prisoners were the death row inmates who had exhausted all their appeals.
Over 1,000 other people sentenced to death - but currently housed in the remand section of Kenyan prisons as they await the outcome of their appeals - will probably have their death sentences commuted by the President if confirmed in final appeal, Githae said.
The Assistant Minister for Justice ensured that Kenya's commitment to the abolition of the death penalty will be confirmed in international fora.
"We will support the moratorium resolution at the UN General Assembly. We believe that no human being or state has the right to take a person's life," Githae said.