Public participation in Kenya: a study on the effectiveness of citizen participation in constitution amendments by popular initiative
Date
2021-01
Authors
Mwangome, Allan Mbura
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Public participation is so fundamental that it is core among the national values and principles of governance, meaning it is binding upon all state organs, state officers, public officers. Key among the areas of applying public participation is when it comes to the area of constitution amendment. Constitution as the supreme law of the land, receives its power from the people; thus, requires a consensus when it comes to its amendment.
Description
Kenya is a democratic society, clearly illustrated by the recognition of the right to sovereignty and the inalienable right to determine the form of governance and fully participating in the Constitution making process in the country.1 The people can exercise their sovereign power either directly or indirectly through their democratically elected representatives.2 In the description of democracy, Abraham Lincoln describes democracy as the government of the people, by the people, for the people, thereby placing emphasis on the place of the people in taking part in their day to day governance.