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{
    "id": 603415,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/603415/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 46,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mulu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": "some of the countries which have passed such a Bill before Kenya. As we are talking, 17 countries in Africa have passed such a Bill. You can imagine Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Sudan have already passed this law. If you asked any Kenyan whether Sudan could be having such a law, probably he or she would tell you “no” because the perception we have of Sudan is that it is quite restrictive in terms of access to information. However, they have this law. We should have passed this law a long time ago. That is why I urge my colleagues in this House and Kenyans in general to support this Bill. Access to information is important for any country. We have all heard of the phrase that information is power. That means when you have information, you have power. You can do what you want to do with the information. Clause 3 provides the object and purpose of the Act. I beg to read out paragraphs (e) and (f), which state:- “(e) provide for the protection of persons who release information of public interest in good faith, and, (f) provide a framework to facilitate public education on the right to access to information under this Act.” Those two objectives confirm that this is very important Bill. This law will protect those who provide information of public interest. The Bill will also make sure that Kenyans are educated on what is happening around them. Clause 4(3) says that access to information of a public entity, or private body, shall be provided expeditiously and inexpensively. This will ensure that Kenyans are able to access information at anytime and anywhere in the country. Clause 5(2) provides that information shall be disseminated taking into consideration the need to reach persons with disabilities, the cost, local language, the most effective method of communication in that local area, and the information shall be easily accessible and available for free or at cost taking into account the medium used. This clause makes sure that any Kenyan, whether disabled or illiterate, will be able to access information. This Bill provides that, that information is accessed by all. Under clause 3(c), there is a provision that this information should be on the internet provided that the materials are held by the authority in electronic form. This means that you do not have to travel to any place to access information. You can access it from anywhere as long as you have a computer and you are connected. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, in terms of access to information which is Part III of this Bill, Clause 8((2) says that:- “Despite subsection (1), an applicant who, because of illiteracy or disability, is unable to make a written request for access to information in accordance with subsection (1) may make that request orally and the public officer concerned shall reduce the oral request to writing in the prescribed form and provide a copy to the applicant”. So, if you are not able to write, you can walk to an office and ask for the information that you want and the officer in charge of that office, is required by this Bill to listen to you, interpret the information that you require and provide it. The benefits of this Bill to the country are many. If you look at the Budget-making process - I am aware I am a Member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee - you will realise that this country is going to gain enormously as a result of this Bill. The Bill is going to The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}