By Dawan Africa - Admin
Kenya, September 14, 2026 - The Senate has invited members of the public to submit memoranda on the Public Participation Bill, 2025, as the proposed law moves to the next stage of consideration.
The Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights will receive written submissions until Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5 p.m.
The Bill was read for the first time in the Senate on September 8 after the National Assembly passed it with amendments on August 12. It seeks to establish a framework for public participation in government decision-making and give effect to constitutional requirements on citizen involvement.
The Senate notice says the Bill was referred to the Standing Committee for consideration, public participation and the preparation of a report to the Senate.
Kenyans can submit their memoranda to the Clerk of the Senate at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi. The submissions can also be sent by email to clerk.senate@parliament.go.ke, with a copy sent to senatejlahrc@parliament.go.ke.
The Bill proposes common rules for public participation across public institutions. It also seeks to identify the authorities responsible for organising public participation and developing guidelines for the process.
The proposed law covers public participation linked to national and county government decisions, parliamentary business, public finance and other functions that affect citizens.
It is based on constitutional provisions that require public involvement in governance and decision-making. Article 118, for example, requires Parliament to conduct its business openly and facilitate public participation in its legislative work.
The proposed framework comes as public participation remains a regular part of government and parliamentary processes. Ministries, counties, Parliament and state agencies often hold public meetings or invite written submissions before making decisions.
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However, the process has faced questions over timing, access to information and the way institutions respond to public views.
In some cases, citizens attend meetings or submit memoranda without receiving a clear explanation of how their views affected the final decision. The Bill seeks to create a more structured process for receiving and considering public input.
The National Assembly said the Bill aims to establish a clear legal framework for public participation in governance and decision-making across public institutions.
The Senate committee will now examine the Bill and the submissions received from the public before reporting to the House.
The public participation process will therefore give Kenyans an opportunity to propose changes to the Bill before the Senate decides how to proceed with it.
Citizens and organisations interested in the proposed law can access the Bill and a summary of its contents through the Parliament website.
The deadline for submissions is September 28 at 5 p.m. The Bill will then continue through the Senate process, where the key issue will be whether the proposed rules can make public participation more meaningful or simply create another administrative requirement for public institutions.