National Assembly Approves Public Participation Bill, 2025

On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the National Assembly in Kenya approved the Public Participation Bill, 2025, setting the stage for a law that would bolster citizen involvement in public governance and decision-making. The legislation, proposed by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkong'a, aims to create a clear legal framework governing public participation across government bodies.

The Public Participation Bill, 2025, was approved after the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC) presented a report following extensive consultations with stakeholders and nationwide public hearings. Kenyans were given the chance to voice their opinions and recommendations on the proposed legislation.

JLAC Chairperson, Gitonga Murugara, highlighted that the Bill would streamline public participation across government institutions and empower citizens to play a meaningful role in decision-making. He emphasized that the responsibility to formulate specific regulations would now fall on the respective government entities once the law is enacted.

During the debate, lawmakers stressed that public participation should transcend mere procedural and legal compliance. They urged government institutions to ensure citizens have ample opportunities to understand proposals, submit their views, and receive feedback on how their contributions are considered. Moreover, the MPs emphasized the importance of making public participation documents easily accessible to citizens, preferably in languages they can comprehend.

They also called for the incorporation of sign language to prevent the exclusion of persons with disabilities from decision-making processes.