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{
    "id": 811939,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/811939/?format=api",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a very important Bill for discussion, debate and possibly enactment, I hope, at the end. This Bill, as is evident from the preamble, is for purposes of provision of a general framework for effective public participation to give effect to the constitutional principles of democracy and participation of the people. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in that preamble, there is reference to several provisions of the Constitution of Kenya, which are important. The theme of public participation is found throughout the Constitution. Article 1(2), which is the basis upon which the principle of public participation is founded upon, declares the sovereignty of the people and that all the institutions of governance – from the national to the county level – exercise functions and powers as delegated by the people of Kenya. That is a very important consideration for this Bill. This Bill is essentially about a basic principle upon which the Constitution is founded. The Constitution is founded on the principle of a Republic founded on the sovereign power of the people. Indeed, as scholars have noted, generally, you would categorize democracies in various forms; and that in modern democracies, you tend to get represented democracies in nearly all the countries in the world, including the older democracies. The old Greek cities of the years before Christ survived or were won on the principle of direct democracy. Happily, our Constitution embraces these two principles of representative democracy and direct democracy. That is found in Article 1 (2) where the Constitution is very clear that the people may exercise their powers directly or through their elected representatives. The mechanisms upon which the people can exercise their powers directly are essentially through democratic elections. That, again, is based on the constitutional principles, including those that are set out in the Bill of Rights. Mr. Speaker, Sir, more importantly and with your permission, I wish to make references to the Constitution of Kenya. The Constitution of Kenya refers to the subject or the principle of public participation in many of its provisions, beginning with Article 10. Article 10 (2) (a) of the Constitution sets out the values and principles of governance upon which the Constitution is established. All the legislative arms of Government at the national and county levels are required to observe the principle of public participation, more so, in Article 118 of the Constitution of Kenya. Allow me to read Article 118 (1) (b) which says:- “Parliament shall facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of Parliament and its committees.” Public participation is not just to facilitate participation, but also involvement. Those words are very important. When it comes to the county governments, again---"
}