Members of Parliament have been urged to fast track the passing of the Freedom of Information bill (FOI Bill) that is currently in its third reading.
Speaking on Thursday in Nakuru, Demas Kiprop who is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and also the senior programmes officer at Article 19, said when enacted into law, the bill will not just promote the right to freedom of expression and information, but also will help citizens hold their leaders accountable.
“Right to information enhances transparency. When enacted into law, the bill will improve access to information from government officers and also help to curb runaway impunity,” said Kiprop.
He added that the government has been reluctant in presenting such a bill in parliament for a period of over 12 years, and now that the bill is in the floor of the house, MPs should not miss the opportunity to pass it.
“I appeal to members of the parliament to pass the bill. It will bring meaning to freedom of expression and media and also enable citizens make informed choices while choosing their leaders and hold them accountable in the management of resources,” he said.
The lawyer added that a society where people can express freely is more informed and citizenry is able to make good choices based on facts.