Hon. John Michuki, the Minister for Environment and Mineral Resources has appointed a Taskforce for drafting Legislation Implementing Land Use, Environment, and Natural Resources Provisions of the Kenya Constitution.

In a Gazette notice (No. 13880) under the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (No. 8 of 1999) dated the 1^st November 2010, the minister listed the taskforce’s terms of reference to include:

1)      Reviewing existing legislation and making recommendations concerning

2)      Provisions to be repealed by new bill(s).

3)      Provisions to be deleted and replaced with alternative provisions.

4)      Drafting  of new bills in areas under which the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources is taking the role of Lead Agency under the Action Plan Relating to Enactment of Legislation by Parliament;

5)      Developing checklists for reviewing and consulting on other bills under the:

                                         I.   Action plan that are the oversight of other Ministries under the Action Plan.

                                       II.   Action Plan that are under review by other bodies e.g. the Kenya Law Reform Commission.

The (environmentally) star studded taskforce shall comprise eleven (11) members including: Donald Kaniaru as chairperson, Professor Albert Muma, doctors Charles Okidi, Pamela Kameri-Mbote, David Western, Jane A. Dwasi  and Grace Cheserek. Also Collin Ondete, Anne Angwenyi, Dawit Sheikh Abdirahman, and  Roger O. Sagana. Further there shall be two joint secretaries - Irene Kamunge and Erastus Gitonga.

The taskforce’s chairperson, Donald Kaniaru, has previously served as the Director in the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation at the United Nations Environment Programme and is an Advocate of the High Court.

The appointment period for the Taskforce shall be for a period of one (1) year, with effect from 1st November, 2010.