PART II – ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL AUTHORITY

5. Central Authority

(1) There is established an authority to be known as the Central Authority to perform functions specified in this Act.

(2) The office of the Attorney-General shall be designated as the Central Authority established under subsection (1) of this section.


6. Functions of central authority

(1) The functions of the Central Authority shall include—
(a) transmitting and receiving requests for legal assistance and executing or arranging for the execution of such requests;
(b) ensuring that requests for legal assistance conform to the requirements of law and Kenya’s international obligations;
(c) where necessary, certifying or authenticating, or arranging for the certification and authentication of, any documents or other material supplied in response to a request for legal assistance;
(d) taking practical measures to facilitate the orderly and rapid disposition of requests for legal assistance;
(e) negotiating and agreeing on conditions related to requests for legal assistance, as well as to ensuring compliance with those conditions;
(f) making any arrangements deemed necessary in order to transmit the evidentiary material gathered in response to a request for legal assistance to a requesting state or to authorize any other authority to do so;
(g) carrying out such other tasks as provided for by this Act or which may be necessary for effective legal assistance to be provided or received.

PART III – MAKING AND EXECUTION OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS


8. Incoming requests for legal assistance

(1) A request from a requesting state shall be made in writing to the Central Authority.

(2) Upon receipt of the request under subsection (1), the Central Authority shall as soon as is reasonably practicable acknowledge receipt of such request and forthwith transmit the same to the relevant competent authority.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), “in writing” includes e-mail, facsimile or other agreed forms of electronic transmission provided that appropriate levels of security and authentication are put in place.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Competent Authority shall grant the legal assistance requested in subsection (1) as expeditiously as practicable.

(5) The Competent Authority may seek additional information from a requesting state if it considers necessary.

(6) If the Competent Authority considers that—
(a) the request does not comply with the provisions of this Act; or
(b) in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the request for legal assistance is to be refused in whole or in part; or
(c) the request cannot be complied with, in whole or in part; or
(d) there are circumstances which are likely to cause a significant delay in complying with the request,
it shall promptly inform a requesting state, giving reasons .