ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION

The main objective of this programme is to support public policy and legislation and thus improve the quality of service delivery of professionals in the region

APSEA continues to represent Corporate Members on crosscutting issues at higher levels. To provide a unified advocacy platform for APSEA members to address issues that affect professionals and Kenyans in general.  Such issues may include government policies, political issues e.g. Constitution making, corruption, etc. and regional integration and trade in professional services.

Some of the Advocacy areas include:

• APSEA’s Role in the implementation of the Constitution.

The year 2011 is of significance both to APSEA and to the Country. It is the year that APSEA has been actively involved in the implementation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the establishment of various commissions as created in the Constitution.

APSEA as the joint forum of all professionals in Kenya is recognized in Article 230 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and has a stake in the implementation of the Constitution. We have played a major role in contributing towards reforming crucial institutions and refining of legislation and draft bills related to judicial issues, land, national values, and devolution, among many others.

• Further to that, APSEA, on request from the Office of His Excellency The President was called upon to nominate professionals to a number of Selection Panels and Commissions pursuant to the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. These panels and commissions include
• A Commissioner to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
• A member to the  Selection Panel of the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
• The Chairman to the Selection Panel that would then select the Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
• The chairperson to the Selection Panel of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
• A Member to the Selection Panel for the Commission on Administrative Justice.
• A member to the Selection Panel for the National Gender and Equality Commission.
• Two members to the Selection Panel for the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights;
• Two members to the Selection Committee for the appointment of the Registrar of Political Parties ( pending).
• A member  to the Selection Panel for the National Police Commission.

The Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution was able to call upon APSEA to participate in the drafting of over 15 draft bills among them: Marriage Bill; Matrimonial Property Bill; Family Protection Bill; Land Registration Bill; Consumer Protection Bill; Public Service Commission Bill; Public Finance Management Bill. National Land Commission Bill. Other bills include the Labour Court of Kenya Bill; National Human Rights Commission Bill; Ombudsman Commission Bill,2011 and the National Gender Commission Bill among others.

1. APSEA Think Tank on Devolution:

The APSEA multidisciplinary Think Tank on Devolution has been formed to guide APSEA and professionals in general on their role in implementing devolution and overall better governance in Kenya. The Think Tank’s mandate was to develop county government models one on Administration, one county government model on Finance and a Policy Paper on the Position of Professionals on Devolution;

• APSEA County Models

The APSEA County Government Model contained two sub- models- one on Administration and one on Finance, which recommends how devolution should be implemented at the County level. As we all know, devolution is a key subject in the Constitution and marks a radical departure from the way Kenya has been governed in the past. Despite its critical importance, there is a lack of a clear picture amongst Kenyans and even amongst a wide section of professionals as to what devolution portends for the country as envisaged by the constitution. APSEA was able to successfully publish 1000 copies of the documents which were disseminated to APSEA Stakeholders and members.

In addition to devolution, APSEA has a keen interest in the vetting of Public and State Officials and therefore has drafted the State Officer Vetting Guidelines Bill, 2011. This has been the major contribution of APSEA towards ensuring the right leadership is in place in Kenya and advocacy efforts are currently underway to have the bill passed into an Act.

1. Vetting Framework For Public Officials:

APSEA has been fully engaged in the implementation of the Constitution and as part of our contribution to governance and reforms, we have published a number of policy documents to guide the process namely: the APSEA Policy Brief on the Role of Professionals in the Implementation of the Constitution which is a guide on the role professionals should play in the constitution implementation process; as well as the APSEA County Government Model and APSEA Policy Paper on the Role of Professionals in Devolution which contains two sub- models- one on Administration and one on Finance which recommends how devolution should be implemented at the County level.