THE KENYAN SECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS

PRESS STATEMENT - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

18TH MAY 2007

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, 2007

The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists and the entire Freedom of Information Network celebrates the dawn of an era in Kenya marked by the introduction of the Freedom of Information Bill, 2007 in Parliament Yesterday 17th May 2007 by Hon. Gideon Moi on behalf of Hon. Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o.

The painstaking efforts of the Freedom of Information Network of drafting and publicizing the Freedom of Information Bill have finally come to fruition through the tabling of the Bill. This has been an on-going campaign since the year 2000 spearheaded by ICJ-Kenya in consultation with various stakeholders, members of the Freedom of Information Network and supported by many Kenyans countrywide. This Ninth Parliament has brought us to the peak of the Right to Know Campaign by embarking on the legislative process.

We are happy to note that even the Government is keenly committed to this cause as evidenced by the publication of the recent Draft Kenya Freedom of Information Bill 2007. Indeed all stakeholders are reading from the same script, the Government, the Media, the Civil Society, the Members of Parliament and all Kenyans of good will. We therefore envisage a smooth passage of the Bill long before elections.

The Published Bill has very progressive provisions and promises to usher in an era of openness, transparency and accountability in Kenya. Enactment of the Freedom of Information of Act will confirm Kenya a leading democracy in Africa, being among the top five countries to have an FOI Law. Only South Africa, Angola and Uganda have access to information regimes.

We are now on the finishing line towards having a Freedom of Information Act in Kenya. The clock is ticking and we urge all members of the Ninth Parliament both in Opposition and Government to rise to the occasion and put the interests of this Great Nation forward by enacting the Freedom of Information Bill, 2007 in its entirety.

GEORGE KEGORO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
[email][email protected]
Tel: 3875981