Take part in public participation (bills, budgets, county plans)
Parliament of Kenya / County Assemblies · sources read 4 Oct 2026
When a committee invites views on a Bill, send a written memorandum by the deadline: use the 'Submit Comments' link next to the Bill on parliament.go.ke, or post or deliver it to the Clerk. You can also attend the committee's public hearings in the counties, or petition Parliament on any matter within its authority.
- How long
- Senate petitions: the committee responds within 60 calendar days by a report tabled in the Senate
- Where
- Online at parliament.go.ke (Bills > Submit Comments); by post or hand to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Parliament Buildings, Nairobi; in person at committee public hearings in the counties; your County Assembly for county matters.
What you need
- Your memorandum or comments as one file (doc, docx or pdf, up to 30 MB) if you submit online
- For a petition: the names, addresses, ID numbers and signatures (or thumbprints) of every petitioner
Steps
- Watch for the Clerk's notice inviting the public to submit memoranda on a Bill. It names the committee, the deadline and any public hearings.
- Online: open National Assembly > House Business > Bills on parliament.go.ke and click 'Submit Comments' next to the Bill. Add your name, email and message, and attach your memorandum.
- Or post or hand-deliver it to the Clerk of the National Assembly, P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi, before the deadline in the notice.
- Attend a public hearing: committees list county venues, dates and times in the notice, and you can give your views there.
- For an issue that is not tied to a Bill, write a petition to the Clerk of the National Assembly or the Clerk of the Senate using the format on parliament.go.ke.
Watch out
- Each notice sets a fixed date and time by which memoranda must be received, so send yours early.
- County Bills, budgets and plans go through your County Assembly and county government, not Parliament. County Assemblies must hold their business in public and allow participation, and the county finance executive must ensure public participation in the budget.
- A Senate petition must not have letters, affidavits or other documents attached, and must say whether the matter is in court.
Who this covers
- Any member of the public. Parliament must open its business to the public and make room for public participation.
- Every person has the right to petition Parliament, including to ask for a law to be made, changed or repealed.
Official sources (7)
- Bills parliament.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Invitation to submit memoranda and notification of public hearings (Finance Bill 2026 and others) parliament.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Petition to Parliament parliament.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Petition to Parliament under Articles 37 and 119 of the Constitution (Senate) parliament.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 treasury.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Public Finance Management Act, 2012 treasury.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Petition by Email / Submit Comments form parliament.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026