Senate invites Kenyans to submit views on Public Participation Bill 2025

The Senate has extended an invitation to the public to submit their opinions on the Public Participation Bill, 2025, as the House commences consideration of the proposed legislation. The Bill, designated as National Assembly Bills No. 44 of 2025, was presented in the Senate for the first time on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and subsequently assigned to the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights for further deliberation.

A public notice issued by the Senate Clerk elucidated that the committee is tasked with facilitating public involvement in the Bill and taking into account the views and suggestions put forth by citizens before presenting its report to the Senate. The proposed legislation aims to establish a framework for effective public participation and offer guidance to public institutions on how to engage citizens in decision-making processes.

According to the notice, the Bill establishes a framework for effective public participation, upholding the constitutional principle enshrined in various Articles of the Constitution, such as Articles 1, 10(2), 69(1)(d), 118, 174(c), 184(1)(c), 196, 201(a), and 232(1)(d). The Senate highlighted that the Bill also provides guiding principles that institutions conducting public participation must adhere to and designates responsible authorities within each public institution for developing specific public participation guidelines.

In line with Article 118 of the Constitution and Senate Standing Order 145(5), the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights has called upon members of the public to submit any representations they may have regarding the Bill through written memoranda. These memoranda can be submitted to the Clerk of the Senate via various means, including physical delivery to the Clerk's office, hand-delivery to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate, or electronic submission via email to specified addresses, with a deadline of Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The Senate emphasized the importance of utilizing this opportunity to present views before the stipulated deadline.