The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Samuel Njoroge met the Attorney General, Ms. Dorcas Oduor as part of the intergovernmental initiative to create a legal framework for public participation.

 During the meeting on Friday, September 6, 2024 at the Office of the Attorney General in Sheria House, Mr. Njoroge briefed her on past Parliamentary attempts to enact the crucial law, which is aimed at promulgating a framework for the involvement of citizens in decision-making, especially where those decisions affect them.

 “Article 10 (2) (a) of the Constitution expressly lists participation of the people as a national value and principle of governance that binds all State organs, state officers and public officers while making and implementing public policy decisions,” noted Mr. Njoroge.

 On her part Ms. Oduor noted that the courts have previously guided on the nature of requirements and limits in the conduct of public participation in past decisions, and underscored the need for Parliament to formulate a comprehensive legal framework to guide the same.

 “It has become acutely necessary to harmonize efforts across Government in formulating a comprehensive legislation through a multisectoral consultative process to address the principle of public participation,” Ms. Oduor said. 

The Leader of the majority Party, Hon. Kimani Ichung'wah is sponsoring a Bill dubbed the Public Participation Bill, 2024, that seeks to provide a framework for effective public participation. 

 The Bill seeks to give effect to the Constitutional principles of public participation and participatory democracy as enunciated in Articles 1, 10, 35, 69, 118, 174, 184, 196, 201, and 232. 

 It further provides guiding principles to be adhered to by institutions conducting public participation and also designates the responsible authorities for purposes of developing specific guidelines for public participation in each public institution.