By KURGAT MARINDANY@KMARINDANY
Monday, August 29, 2016
IEBC chairman Issack Hassan (centre) and his law school classmates at the Grays Hawk Hotel in Kitengela town on Saturday /KURGAT MARINDANY
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Issack Hassan has said he will have no regrets leaving the commission.
“If the appointing authority decides I leave the IEBC, I have no regrets. I will exit honourably because this country is larger that an individual,” he said.
Hassan said when he gets a “good send-off” package, he will go back to his private law farm – Hassan & Warsame Company Advocates – and move on like any other Kenyan.
“I served with all my dedication at the helm of the IEBC for close to six years after serving with the Yash Pal Ghai constitution review for five years. I love my country and I will continue doing so because home is home,” he said.
He urged practising lawyers to uphold the rule of law.
Hassan was speaking in Kitengela on Saturday evening when he addressed 30 lawyers whom he graduated with from the University of Nairobi law school in 1992. He veered off the ongoing IEBC debate and dwelt largely on social issues.
The lawyers were hosted by colleague Alice Yano at Grays Hawk Hotel. Former vice chairman of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Elizabeth Muli was present.
Also present were Council of Governors CEO Jackline Mogeni, MPs Moses Cheboi (Kuresoi North), Florence Kajuju (Meru woman Rep), senior counsel Tom Ogweno, Benjamin Irungu and Geoffrey Maina.
Before being appointed the IEBC chairman, Hassan was the chairperson of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission from May 2009 to November 2011.
He is a specialist in commercial and constitutional law.
Hassan worked as an associate advocate, partner and head of litigation department and the managing partner at Messrs Ibrahim, Issack & Co Advocates until May 2009.
He was a commissioner at the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission from 2000 to 2005.
In June 2006, Hassan was appointed by former President Mwai Kibaki tothe Presidential Commission of Inquiry into national security breaches by the Artur brothers.
He has also worked as Legal Consultant for the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) training Somali Parliamentarians on Constitutionalism and Federalism in Baidoa, Somalia in 2006.
He also served as Legal Consultant for UNDP-Somalia on the Somalia Constitution Making Project from June to December 2008.
Between June 2006 and May 2009, he served as a General Legal Counsel for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. During the same period, he also served as a Special Legal Adviser to the Transitional President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, the Late Col. (Rtd) Abdullahi Yusuf.
He has participated in numerous forums on election management and shared experiences with election officials from other countries.
He has observed elections in many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, Canada and the USA.
He has also authored several articles and publications on governance, security, human rights, elections and international law.
In April 2011, he was the Head of the AU Observer Mission to Nigeria’s Elections.
Ends