The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs Judith Pareno has officially opened the public participation exercise on on the three critical governance bills.
The bills include; the Public Participation Bill, Whistleblower Protection Bill and Anticorruption Laws (Amendment) Bill.
The exercise which was conducted in Nyeri County seeks to ensure policies reflect the will of the people, promote transparency and accountability, and foster a more inclusive and equitable society.
Public participation can also help generate new, diverse, and innovative ideas and actions, improve the delivery of public services, and enhance citizen-government relations.
Speaking during the launch, PS Pareno encouraged citizens to exercise their civic duty by sharing their input on the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice public participation portal.
PS Pareno said Public Participation is a fundamental constitutional principle strengthening Democratic Governance as well as fostering Inclusive and Equitable Society.
“Public participation can help ensure that policies are well-informed and effective by incorporating the knowledge and experiences of citizens. It can also lead to more effective implementation of policies by ensuring that they are aligned with the needs and preferences of the people” she said.
The Public Participation Bill aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework to guide citizen involvement in governance and policymaking processes across all levels of government.
Similarly, the Whistleblower Protection Bill seeks to safeguard individuals who expose corruption, fraud, and abuse of office by guaranteeing confidentiality and protection from retaliation.
Further, the Anticorruption Laws (Amendment) Bill proposes enhancements to existing laws to strengthen the fight against economic crimes and empower investigative agencies.
