Kenya has gazetted a new Access to Information Policy, 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and public participation in governance by reinforcing citizens’ ability to obtain information held by public institutions.
The policy, published under Gazette Notice No. 15992 in the Kenya Gazette of October 9, 2026, by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, places access to information at the centre of democratic governance, protection of rights and public sector accountability.
The framework seeks to advance the constitutional right of citizens to access public information while supporting reforms intended to make government institutions more transparent and responsive to the needs of the public.
In the policy’s foreword, Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo Gitau describes access to information as a fundamental human right and a critical pillar of democracy and good governance.
The policy is anchored in Article 35 of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right of access to information held by the State. It also aligns Kenya’s obligations with international commitments and national development priorities, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Kenya Vision 2030.
Under the global development agenda, Sustainable Development Goal 16 promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice and effective, accountable institutions. Its indicator 16.10.2 calls on countries to adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and policy guarantees for public access to information.
The new policy therefore seeks to strengthen the legal, institutional and policy environment through which citizens can exercise their right to information and participate more effectively in public affairs.
Access to information is particularly important in a democratic society where citizens need reliable information to scrutinise public expenditure, assess government programmes, question decisions by public officials and contribute meaningfully to policy making.
By providing a framework for public access to information, the policy recognises the link between transparency and the protection of civil and political rights, socio economic rights and the collective interests of communities.
It also identifies access to information as an important tool for promoting freedom of expression, the rule of law and public confidence in government institutions.
The framework is expected to support a governance environment in which citizens are better placed to engage with public institutions, understand government decisions and participate in development initiatives.
Kenya Vision 2030, the country’s long term development blueprint, identifies transparency and accountability in the public sector as important components of the reforms required to achieve national development goals.
The policy aligns with this ambition by promoting access to public information and data as a means of encouraging citizen participation in governance, development planning and democratic processes.
However, the effectiveness of the framework will depend on how it is implemented across government institutions and the extent to which public agencies embrace the principles it seeks to promote.
The policy identifies the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders as essential to its successful implementation.
These include national and other public sector institutions, private sector organisations, civil society groups, faith based organisations, the media, academic institutions and individual citizens.
Their participation is expected to support the implementation process and strengthen public awareness of the importance of access to information.
The media, in particular, plays a critical role in gathering, verifying and disseminating information on matters of public interest. Access to official records and government data is essential to investigative reporting, public interest journalism and the scrutiny of public institutions.
Civil society organisations and academic institutions can also contribute by helping citizens understand their rights, examining public policies and promoting informed debate on governance and development.
For ordinary citizens, access to information can provide a basis for holding public institutions accountable, evaluating service delivery and participating in decisions that affect their communities.
The policy’s foreword acknowledges the contributions of organisations and individuals involved in developing the framework, while calling for collective efforts to ensure its successful implementation.
Although the gazetted document establishes the policy framework, its practical impact will depend on the extent to which institutions translate its objectives into accessible information services, effective administrative procedures and a culture of openness.
The publication marks another step in Kenya’s efforts to promote access to information as a constitutional right and a foundation for accountable government.
As implementation proceeds, the challenge will be to ensure that the policy’s commitments are reflected in the day to day operations of public institutions, enabling citizens to obtain information and engage more effectively in the country’s democratic and development processes.
