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Report on the OVC breakfast meeting on right to property ... - Kelin

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<str<strong>on</strong>g>Report</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>OVC</strong> C<strong>on</strong>sultative Breakfast Meeting<br />

8<br />

from <strong>the</strong> estate of deceased relatives and especially for children or minors.<br />

• The administra<strong>to</strong>r general has in <strong>the</strong> last and current financial years c<strong>on</strong>ducted several programmes <strong>to</strong> sensitize <strong>OVC</strong>’s<br />

in liais<strong>on</strong> with <strong>the</strong> provincial administrati<strong>on</strong> through baraza’s <strong>to</strong>uching <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> role of <strong>the</strong> public trustee, accessibility of<br />

benefits and <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong>s of <strong>OVC</strong>’s.<br />

• The public trustee has fashi<strong>on</strong>ed a sample will that may be used by those opting <strong>to</strong> die testate.<br />

• The A.G. is committed himself <strong>to</strong> setting up a small team of <strong>the</strong> relevant government departments <strong>to</strong> discuss <strong>the</strong>se<br />

challenges.<br />

In c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>, Ms. Njuya sought <strong>to</strong> clarify certain c<strong>on</strong>cerns raised by <strong>the</strong> different speakers.<br />

• The jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> office of <strong>the</strong> public trustee is determined by value and not by <strong>the</strong> size of land.<br />

• The public trustee has <strong>the</strong> power <strong>to</strong> prepare a summary certificate <strong>to</strong> administer an estate not exceeding Kshs 500,000<br />

and in such a case court procedures are all sidestepped.<br />

• The office of <strong>the</strong> administra<strong>to</strong>r general can <strong>on</strong>ly recognize a guardian who has been b<strong>on</strong>afide appointed by court.<br />

O<strong>the</strong>rwise <strong>the</strong>y can <strong>on</strong>ly pay emergency bills such as school fees and hospital bills directly <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> invoicing instituti<strong>on</strong>s<br />

where <strong>the</strong> guardian is not b<strong>on</strong>a fide court appointed.<br />

• M<strong>on</strong>ies for beneficiaries are properly invested by <strong>the</strong> public trustee in treasury bills and reputable banks and profits or<br />

gains realized <strong>the</strong>re from are spread out <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> estates that <strong>the</strong>y administer.<br />

At <strong>the</strong> end of Ms Njuya’s presentati<strong>on</strong>, Ms. Anne Gathumbi emphasized <strong>the</strong> need <strong>to</strong> forge partnerships as<br />

recommended by both <strong>the</strong> H<strong>on</strong>. <strong>the</strong> A.G. and his representative <strong>to</strong> educate <strong>the</strong> public and more so <strong>to</strong> come up<br />

with specific legislati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <strong>OVC</strong>s<br />

Sessi<strong>on</strong> II ended at 1155hrs<br />

The final sessi<strong>on</strong> began immediately <strong>the</strong>reafter with Commissi<strong>on</strong>er Anne Ngugi of <strong>the</strong> Kenya Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />

Commissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Human <strong>right</strong>s as chair. This sessi<strong>on</strong> mainly sought <strong>to</strong> crystallize all <strong>the</strong> various points<br />

of acti<strong>on</strong> put forth by <strong>the</strong> various ac<strong>to</strong>rs during <strong>the</strong>ir presentati<strong>on</strong>s. The following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

were put forth for acti<strong>on</strong>.<br />

i. There is need <strong>to</strong> share some of <strong>the</strong>se experiences with <strong>the</strong> Law Reform Commissi<strong>on</strong> as <strong>the</strong>y are <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>on</strong>es who practically go round<br />

collecting recommendati<strong>on</strong>s that<br />

<strong>the</strong>n lay <strong>the</strong> basis for legislati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

ii.<br />

iii.<br />

There is need <strong>to</strong> organise a major<br />

nati<strong>on</strong>al registrati<strong>on</strong> campaign for<br />

both identificati<strong>on</strong> cards and birth<br />

certificates with <strong>the</strong> involvement of<br />

all stakeholders.<br />

Form a task force <strong>to</strong> identify specific<br />

<strong>OVC</strong> oriented amendments <strong>to</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> law even as we c<strong>on</strong>tinue with<br />

public awareness campaigns <strong>on</strong><br />

Josephine Mbula Oyuga and her grands<strong>on</strong> listen carefuly <strong>to</strong> H<strong>on</strong>. Millie<br />

Odhiambos speech.

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