The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of Kenya’s National Assembly is conducting nationwide consultations on the Public Participation Bill, 2025. On Tuesday, the committee convened in Nyamira under the hosting of West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka, in collaboration with fellow parliamentarians Otiende Amollo and Harold Kimuge.
This legislation aims to operationalize the constitutional provision for citizen involvement in governance by creating a structured framework for collecting and processing public input. The bill fundamentally defines public engagement as involving citizens in both creation and implementation of public policies and laws. Key provisions stress inclusivity, transparency, and proportionality, with Clause 5 stipulating that “the public shall be afforded a reasonable chance to express their views” while the extent of involvement must correspond to the importance of the issue.
The bill assigns responsibility across governmental bodies, from the national Parliament and Judiciary to county authorities, to ensure meaningful and accessible citizen involvement. Specific officials including assembly clerks, principal secretaries, governors, and state corporation CEOs will bear direct accountability for enabling public input. The legislation establishes guiding principles to guarantee inclusivity, transparency, and proportionality. Citizen engagement can occur through written submissions, oral hearings, online platforms, or public gatherings. Authorities must provide sufficient advance notice, adequate timeframes, and access to pertinent documentation. Critically, all submissions must undergo analysis with results made public, ensuring that citizen input is not merely collected but visibly influences final decisions.
The legislation addresses a significant gap by standardizing inconsistent approaches to public engagement that previously varied across government entities, often resulting in citizen exclusion and lack of information. By mandating specific guidelineseither published in the official Gazette or integrated into Standing Ordersthe bill seeks to harmonize practices and minimize redundancy, particularly within Parliament where committees from both chambers might utilize common reports. The measure also protects confidential information in accordance with existing Access to Information and Data Protection laws, while establishing penalties for officials who intentionally ignore participation requirements. Violations could incur fines up to KSh 500,000, highlighting the importance of adherence.
Mogaka indicated that this legislation will transform citizen involvement from a constitutional concept into a systematic, enforceable reality. “Once implemented, it will connect government institutions with citizens, ensuring that policy development incorporates perspectives from Kenyans at all societal levels,” Mogaka stated.