Construing this Constitution

English

(1)This Constitution shall be interpreted in a manner that—

(a)promotes its purposes, values and principles;

(b)advances the rule of law, and the human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights;

(c)permits the development of the law; and

(d)contributes to good governance.

(2)If there is a conflict between different language versions of this Constitution, the English language version prevails.

(3)Every provision of this Constitution shall be construed according to the doctrine of interpretation that the law is always speaking and, therefore, among other things—

(a)a function or power conferred by this Constitution on an office may be performed or exercised as occasion requires, by the person holding the office;

(b)any reference in this Constitution to a State or other public office or officer, or a person holding such an office, includes a reference to the person acting in or otherwise performing the functions of the office at any particular time;

(c)a reference in this Constitution to an office, State organ or locality named in this Constitution shall be read with any formal alteration necessary to make it applicable in the circumstances; and

(d)a reference in this Constitution to an office, body or organisation is, if the office, body or organisation has ceased to exist, a reference to its successor or to the equivalent office, body or organisation.

(4)In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires—

(a)if a word or expression is defined in this Constitution, any grammatical variation or cognate expression of the word or expression has a corresponding meaning, read with the changes required by the context; and

(b)the word “includes” means “includes, but is not limited to”.

(5)In calculating time between two events for any purpose under this Constitution, if the time is expressed—

(a)as days, the day on which the first event occurs shall be excluded, and the day by which the last event may occur shall be included;

(b)as months, the time period ends at the beginning of the day in the relevant month—

(i)that has the same number as the date on which the period began, if that month has a corresponding date; or

(ii)that is the last day of that month, in any other case; or

(c)as years, the period of time ends at the beginning of the date of the relevant year that corresponds to the date on which the period began.

(6)If a period of time prescribed by this Constitution for any purpose is six days or less, Sundays and public holidays shall not count when calculating the time.

(7)If, in any particular circumstances, the period of time prescribed by this Constitution ends on a Sunday or a public holiday, the period extends to the first subsequent day that is not a Sunday or public holiday.

(8)If a particular time is not prescribed by this Constitution for performing a required act, the act shall be done without unreasonable delay, and as often as occasion arises.

(9)If any person or State organ has authority under this Constitution to extend a period of time prescribed by this Constitution, the authority may be exercised either before or after the end of the period, unless a contrary intention is expressly specified in the provision conferring the authority.

(10)Except to the extent that this Constitution provides otherwise, if a person has vacated an office established under this Constitution, the person may, if qualified, again be appointed, elected or otherwise selected to hold the office in accordance with this Constitution.

(11)If a function or power conferred on a person under this Constitution is exercisable by the person only on the advice or recommendation, with the approval or consent of, or on consultation with, another person, the function may be performed or the power exercised only on that advice, recommendation, with that approval or consent, or after that consultation, except to the extent that this Constitution provides otherwise.

Kiswahili

Kufasiri Katiba Hii

(1)Katiba hii itafasiriwa kwa namna ambayo—

(a)inakuza malengo, maadili na kanuni zake;

(b)inaendeleza utawala wa sheria, haki za binadamu na uhuru wa kimsingi katika Sheria za Haki;

(c)inaruhusu kuendelea kwa sheria; na

(d)inachangia katika utawala bora.

(2)Ikiwa kuna mgongano kati ya matoleo ya Katiba hii katika lugha tofauti, toleo la lugha ya Kiingereza ndilo litakalotawala.

(3)Kila kifungu katika Katiba hii litafasiriwa kulingana na kanuni ya ufasiri kwamba sheria inazungumza kila mara, na kwa hivyo, kati ya masuala mengine—

(a)jukumu au mamlaka yaliyotolewa na Katiba hii kwa ofisi yanaweza kutekelezwa na mtu anayehudumu katika ofisi hiyo kulingana na hitaji;

(b)rejeleo lolote katika Katiba hii kwa Serikali au ofisi nyingine ya umma au afisa, au mtu anayehudumu katika ofisi hiyo ni rejeleo kwa mtu anayehudumu katika ofisi hiyo kwa muda au anayetekeleza majukumu ya ofisi hiyo kwa wakati wowote ule;

(c)rejeleo katika Katiba hii kwa ofisi, kitengo cha Serikali au eneo lililotajwa katika Katiba hii litasomwa kwa kuzingatia badiliko lolote rasmi linalohitajika ili liweze kutumika katika hali hizo; na

(d)rejeleo katika Katiba hii kwa ofisi au shirika, ikiwa ofisi au shirika hilo halipo tena, ni rejeleo kwa ofisi au shirika lililorithi, au ofisi au shirika sawa na lile ambalo halipo tena.

(4)Katika Katiba hii, isipokuwa pale ambapo muktadha unahitaji vinginevyo—

(a)iwapo neno au maelezo yamefafanuliwa katika Katiba hii, tofauti zozote za kisarufi au za kimatumizi ya neno linalohusiana na jingine, soma ukizingatia mabadiliko yanayotokana na muktadha; na

(b)neno “ikijumuisha” linamaanisha “ikijumuisha, lakini bila kudhibiti”.

(5)Katika kuhesabu muda uliopita kati ya matukio mawili, kwa madhumuni yoyote chini ya Katiba hii, ikiwa muda huo umeelezwa—

(a)kama siku, basi siku ambayo tukio la kwanza linatokea haitahesabiwa, na siku ambayo tukio la mwisho linaweza kutokea itajumuishwa;

(b)kama miezi, kipindi cha muda uliowekwa unaisha mwanzoni mwa siku katika mwezi husika—

(i)ambayo ina nambari sawa kama tarehe ambayo kipindi hicho kilianza, ikiwa mwezi huo una tarehe inayolingana; au

(ii)ndiyo siku ya mwisho ya mwezi huo, katika hali yoyote nyingine; au

(c)kama miaka, kipindi cha muda huo kinamalizika mwanzoni mwa tarehe ya mwaka husika inayolingana na tarehe ambayo kipindi hicho kilianza.

(6)Ikiwa muda uliowekwa katika Katiba hii kwa madhumuni yoyote ni siku sita au chini yake, Jumapili na siku za mapumziko za kitaifa hazitahesabiwa muda huo unapohesabiwa.

(7)Ikiwa katika hali zozote maalum, kipindi cha muda kilichowekwa na Katiba hii kinakamilika siku ya Jumapili au siku ya mapumziko ya kitaifa, muda huo unaongezwa hadi siku inayofuata ambayo sio Jumapili au siku ya mapumziko ya kitaifa.

(8)Ikiwa muda fulani haujawekwa na Katiba hii katika utekelezaji wa kitendo fulani, kitendo hicho kitafanywa bila kuchelewa kusio na sababu za kuridhisha, na kulingana na itakavyohitajika mara kwa mara.

(9)Ikiwa mtu yeyote au kitengo cha Serikali kina mamlaka chini ya Katiba hii ya kuongeza kipindi cha muda uliowekwa na Katiba hii, mamlaka hayo yanaweza kutekelezwa kabla au baada ya mwisho wa kipindi hicho, isipokuwa pale ambapo nia tofauti imeelezewa wazi katika kifungu kinachotoa mamlaka hayo.

(10)Isipokuwa pale ambapo Katiba hii inaelezea vinginevyo, ikiwa mtu ameondoka katika ofisi iliyobuniwa chini ya Katiba hii, ikiwa mtu huyo anastahiki, anaweza kuteuliwa tena, kuchaguliwa au vinginevyo kuteuliwa ili kuhudumu katika ofisi hiyo kulingana na Katiba hii.

(11)Ikiwa jukumu au mamlaka yaliyotolewa kwa mtu chini ya Katiba hii yanaweza kutekelezwa na mtu huyo tu kupitia kwa ushauri au pendekezo, kupitia kwa idhini ya mtu mwingine au mashauriano na mtu mwingine, jukumu hilo linaweza kufanywa au mamlaka hayo kutekelezwa kupitia tu kwa ushauri huo, pendekezo, idhini au baada ya mashauriano hayo, isipokuwa kwa kiwango ambacho Katiba hii inatoa mwongozo vinginevyo.