THE PARLIAMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS & ACCOUNTABILITY CHARTER

RECOGNIZING the right of citizens to economic development, the obligation of states to progressively realize economic and social rights for citizens through prudent use of available resources, the right of citizens to participate in the public affairs of their country and the right to effective representation through freely chosen and effective representatives;

AND CONSIDERING the necessity of citizens to hold their leaders accountable and check the exercise of power:

I…..…………………having offered myself for election  as MP to the seat of.………………………constituency make the following Charter with my constituents:

       
 A: REDUCTION OF SALARY

1. I commit myself within the first year of office to the legal reduction of parliamentary emoluments not to exceed Ksh. 400,000/- per month and to pay full taxes on it. Pending reduction, I will put any sum above Kshs 400,000/- to the disposal of the CDF Fund and hereby authorize the Clerk to the National Assembly to implement this deduction and avail the information to the public as proof of compliance.

 
B: COMMITMENT TO NON-DISCRIMINATION

1. I shall commit myself to the principle of non-discrimination on basis of gender, race, tribe and religion and shall not engage in inflammatory or hate speech along gender, race, religious, ethnic and/or other lines during campaigns or in any public or private function.

 

C: ACCOUNTABILITY TO MY     POLITICAL PARTY

1. I shall not promote the interests of another Political Party other than that on whose ticket I am elected to parliament unless I have resigned from the party as required by law.

 

 

D: PUBLIC RESOURCES

1. I shall oversee an open and transparent process of election of people of proven integrity and credibility to the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). I will only provide supervision to the CDF to ensure maximum results and that the management and administration of CDF funds is at all times transparent, independent and accountable.

 

1. If I am appointed Minister or Assistant Minister, I shall strictly adhere to the Public Officer Ethics Act and will not use public resources entrusted to my care for political activity or personal gain.

1. I shall actively seek the return of looted funds, irregularly and illegally acquired public land documented in the Ndungu Report and also support enactment of the proposed Land Adjudication Tribunal in pursuit of this recovery

 

E: DILIGENCE IN PARLIAMENT

1. I shall attend at least ¾ of parliamentary sessions, contribute constructively to the issues before Parliament, and undertake to represent the view that best captures the interests of my constituents and other Kenyans, who are my employers. At all times I will be diligent and honest promising to support enactment of a law to facilitate live radio and television transmission of parliamentary proceedings

                  
F: TRANSPARENCY &  ACCOUNTABILITY

1. I shall make my wealth declaration under section 26(1) of the Public Officer Ethics Act public within one month of assuming my seat in the House.

 

1. I shall ensure protection of the right to information and support enactment of a comprehensive and effective Access to Information Bill. Further, every year, I will hold at least 2 “Public Accountability Forums” in every Division in my constituency where I will put my record as MP to scrutiny to my constituents and other stakeholders.

G: SECURITY

1. In order to promote security in my constituency and in the country as a whole, I shall not engage in incitement and renounce violence as a means for political mobilization. I will not engage, support or associate with activities of private militia and will facilitate the police within my constituency to hold public forums in every Division where the public can express and raise their security concerns

 

 H: ENFORCEMENT

If I fail to adhere to any of the commitments set out in this Charter, I publicly declare that I shall resign from my seat as Member of Parliament; and by copy of this Charter authorize the Speaker of Parliament to declare my seat vacant.

In case of differences of opinion as to the Charter’s interpretation, I will submit myself under the principle of natural justice to arbitration by a panel comprising of my political party and such other entity with competence regarding compliance or non-compliance with the Charter.

 

Signed by the said   ……………………………………………

 

In the presence of

……………………………………………

  

1. Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem)
2. Catholic Justice & Peace Commission (CJPC)
3. Hindu Council of Kenya
4. Kenya Land Alliance-KLA
5. Center for Multi Party Demoracy-CMD
6. International Commission of Jurists(ICJ) Kenya Chapter
7. Northern Aid
8. Action Aid
9. FIDA-Kenya
10. NCEC
11. Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK)
12. Africa Center for Open Governance
13. SDA Church
14. CRECO
15. Hema la Katiba / Bunge la mwananchi
16. National Civic Education Program-NCEP
17. Kenya Church
18. Institute for Education in Democracy-IED
19. Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations- KARA
20. Youth Agenda
21. People of Kenya
22. FOREK