Nairobi — Regional or county governments will be responsible for hiring and dismissal of their civil servants, proposes the draft constitution.

The devolved governments will further be in charge of appointment, promotion and transfer of public services but all the roles must be within a framework of uniform norms and standards prescribed by an Act of Parliament.

The draft clearly states that all Kenyans have a right to freedom of movement and association and can live anywhere in the country.

Every citizen has the right to acquire and own property in any part of Kenya.

Kenyans are also free to make political choices, use the language or participate in cultural life of their choice.

Cultural rite

"A person shall not compel another person to perform, observe or undergo any cultural practice or rite," the draft added.

The proposed devolved governments are to foster national unity by recognising diversity and protect and promote the interests and rights of minorities and marginalised groups, it continues.

The governments should further recognise the right of local communities to manage their own affairs and to form networks and associations to assist in that management and to further their development.

The units, the draft says, should ensure equitable sharing of national and local resources and promote participation of people in making decisions affecting them.

No more than two thirds of representatives in each devolved government shall be of same gender.

Across counties

The principal role of a regional government is to co-ordinate the implementation, within the counties forming the region, of programmes and projects that extend across two or more counties of the region.

In electing delegates, a regional or county assembly is further expected to consider ethnic and other diversities such as gender.

Launched on Tuesday, the draft recognises eight regions -- the current provinces and 74 counties, formerly districts.

The Kenya Correctional Service will manage prisons, to be organised to take devolution into account.

Though the draft says the Kenya Police Service is national, the division of its functions shall be organised to take into account the devolved structure.