The Office of the Attorney General, on Thursday 5TH September, 2024 formally received the Public Participation Bill from the Clerk of the National Assembly Mr. Samuel Njoroge. During the ceremony, the Attorney General Ms. Dorcas A. Oduor said the handover represents a significant step forward in ensuring the institutionalization of public participation as an integral part of governance in Kenya. The Bill aims to provide a legal framework for public participation at both the national and county levels of government.
The Attorney General expressed deep appreciation to the National Assembly for its
diligent work in formulating the draft Bill, noting the crucial role it will play in advancing Kenya’s democratic ideals. The Office of the Attorney General will now assume the responsibility of advancing the Bill to its next stages, including further legal processing and comprehensive stakeholder engagement. She said, as a Cornerstone of Democracy, the Public Participation Bill which is a constitutional imperative under Article 10, represents a landmark effort to standardize and institutionalize public involvement in governance across all levels of Government. The Bill remains a significant milestone in ensuring that citizens’ voices are not only heard but that their contributions are also meaningfully integrated into governance.
On the ongoing conversation and debate around public participation, including various court pronouncements that have raised concerns about how this principle has been implemented in practice, the Bill will seek to address the concerns by creating a legislative framework that ensures public participation is conducted in a way that is effective, transparent, inclusive and constitutionally compliant.
The Attorney General pointed out that once enacted, the Public Participation Bill, is expected to provide clear guidelines and a structured framework for public participation, in ensuring that Government decisions, at both the national and county levels, are made in a transparent and accountable manner. This will strengthen the relationship between the government and the people, thus facilitating for more trust and collaboration. This inclusive approach will be fundamental in ensuring that the legislation is not only comprehensive but also practical and effective in achieving its intended objectives.
