Members of Parliament are facing intense criticism regarding their role in the impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
On the second day of public engagement concerning the impeachment motion, citizens scrutinized the actions of their MPs, who facilitated the consultations at the constituency level.
In a rare show of compliance, MPs quickly mobilized to adhere to court orders that extended the timeframe for public feedback on the impeachment process.
However, many members of the public remain dissatisfied with the MPs’ sudden enthusiasm for promoting public participation in this matter.
The legislators defended their actions, asserting that facilitating public input is one of their essential responsibilities as lawmakers.
Public participation in the legislative process, established by the 2010 Constitution, has proven to be both beneficial and challenging for the government since its implementation.
Historically, several laws proposed under the 2010 Constitution have failed due to inadequate public engagement.
The previous Jubilee government, for instance, saw the Building Bridges Initiative falter after failing to meet public participation standards, effectively ending the collaboration between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.
Similarly, the current Kenya Kwanza administration has often neglected the importance of genuine public involvement, resulting in significant legislation being criticized for lacking meaningful consultation.
The Housing Levy faced legal challenges over insufficient public input, and the Finance Bill 2024 also struggled with similar discontent among the populace.
Recent protests against the Finance Bill highlighted widespread frustration among Kenyans, particularly the youth, over the lack of authentic public involvement in governance.
This discontent has resurfaced amid the impeachment process of Gachagua.
As dissatisfaction with the democratic process persists, it seems likely that public outcry will continue until the government establishes effective mechanisms to ensure that citizens are adequately involved in legislative matters.
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