Kisii: The National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has conducted a public participation exercise in Kisii county to collect views on the Public Participation Bill, 2025. The Bill, co-sponsored by Rarieda Member of Parliament, Otiende Amollo, and Ainabkoi MP, Samuel Chepkonga, seeks to provide a legal framework to guide how public participation is conducted across government institutions.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Committee’s Chairperson Otiende Amollo, speaking during the forum at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre on the outskirts of Kisii town, stated that the Bill will act as a guideline on the conduct of public participation for responsible authorities across institutions. Amollo noted that the nationwide exercise aims to collate and incorporate residents’ views to ensure the Bill is improved before being presented to Parliament for approval. He highlighted that despite the 2010 Constitution’s provision for mandatory public participation, there was no clear law to guide the exercise, hence the proposed new Bill.
Nominated MP, Harold Kimuge, welcomed the inclusion of persons with disabilities in public participation, particularly Braille versions and sign language interpretation to cater for the visually impaired and deaf individuals. Participants also urged the Committee to set clear timelines for public participation, suggesting that a two weeks’ notice should be given in advance to allow for meaningful engagement.
Additionally, concerns were raised about the need to facilitate individuals traveling from remote areas to attend the forums, noting that many incur significant costs to participate in the exercise. West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka noted that the lack of public participation had greatly contributed to the nullification of several legislations and government actions by the courts. Mogaka urged the county governments to emulate the Bill once passed into law and develop their own public participation guidelines at the county level to ensure uniform citizen engagement practices nationwide.
