Kenya: New dawn for transparency as Access to Information law is passed
| Publisher | Article 19 |
| Publication Date | 1 September 2016 |
| Cite as | Article 19, Kenya: New dawn for transparency as Access to Information law is passed, 1 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c844284.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
ARTICLE 19 welcomes the assent into law of the Access to Information Act 2015. President Uhuru Kenyatta assented to the Bill on 31 August 2016. Kenya is the 21st country on the African continent to pass an access to information law.
"We congratulate the President in assenting to the access to information law. The passage of the Act heralds a new dispensation of openness in the country and underlines the President's commitment to promote transparency and accountability within government," said Henry Maina, Director of ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa.
The Act articulates the processes by which citizens can request for information from public entities and relevant private bodies, and penalizes the withholding of information by public information officers. It also prescribes the procedures for complaints, and confers upon the Commission on Administrative Justice enforcement and oversight powers.
"We should now prioritize the implementation of the provisions of the Act. This requires the understanding of different stakeholders including the executive, judiciary, media, CSOs and the private sector of their roles in implementation," added Maina.
The Act requires the formulation of the regulations by the Cabinet Secretary of Information providing guidance on issues like format, record keeping by public entities, accuracy of information and complaints procedures.
