Govt Urged to Fast track Access to Information Legislation
NAIROBI--The Freedom of Information lobby group in Kenya has urged the government to fast track the process of realizing the access to information legislation to improve flow of information to the public.
The lobby group, Freedom of Information Network, which brings together Civil Society Organizations and the media, has expressed concern that the process of enacting a Freedom of Information law had dragged on for the last ten years making it difficult for citizens to access information held by public institutions.
“We call on the government to live to its stated commitment of facilitating the freedom of Information legislation which in our view will help citizens make informed decisions, enhance public participation and hold those in authority accountable,” said George Kegoro, the Executive Director of the Kenya Section of the International Commission of Jurists.
The FOI network made the call to the government during a symposium in Nairobi during which they reviewed the efforts so far made towards the realization of access to information law.
Kegoro and Transparency International Kenya Executive Director Samuel Kimeu expressed concern over the delay in tabling the Freedom of information Bill adding that the restructured governance system under the new constitution which provided for devolved government required active disclosure of information to the public.
The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Technology Dr. Fred Matiang’i said the government was committed to fast tracking the access to information law adding that the Freedom of Information Bill had already been prepared and would soon be tabled in parliament.
“We in Government are serious about transparency and are committed to sharing information with the public. We urge the Freedom of Information Network to work with us in developing an Access to Information Policy alongside the FOI Bill,” Matiang’i told the symposium.
The Cabinet Secretary urged the FOI fraternity and other key stakeholders to make suggestions on the implementation framework of the access to information law once it is passed by parliament.
He said the government was in the process of building new and interactive websites for all its ministries and would create “Huduma (E-service) Centers in all the 47 Counties to enhance access to information for the citizens.
Dr. Matiang’i however said the government was worried about increasing cases of cyber security breaches and “hate bloggers” who he said were a threat to the cohesion of the Kenyan society.
He said the government had constituted a team to trace the “hate bloggers” and would prosecute those found to have breached the laws.
Two legislators, Priscilla Nyokabi (Women Representative –Nyeri) and Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu Town East) committed to tabling the Freedom of Information Bill as a private member’s initiative if the government delayed in tabling the Bill.
An expert on Access to Information advocacy Satbir Singh from the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative based in India said increased access to information for citizens had significantly improved service delivery in India and other countries.
He said increased access to information for ordinary citizens had helped reduce incidents of corruption and had helped bring more transparency and accountability in public institutions in countries which had adopted such legislation.