4.Right to information
1) Subject to this Act and any other written law, every citizen has the right of access to information held by—
(a) the State; and
(b) another person where that information is required for the exercise or protection of any right or fundamental freedom.
Subject to this Act, every citizen's right to access information is not affected by—
(a) any reason the person gives for seeking access; or
(b) the public entity's belief as to what the person's reasons are for seeking access.
(3) Access to information held by a public entity or a private body shall be provided expeditiously at a reasonable cost.
(4)This Act shall be interpreted and applied on the basis of a duty to disclose and non-disclosure shall be permitted only in circumstances exempted under section 6.
(5) Nothing in this Act shall limit the requirement imposed under this Act or any other written law on a public entity or a private body to disclose information.
Plain English Summary
This section says that every Kenyan citizen has the right to see information held by the government or by private companies if it protects their rights. Offices cannot refuse to give you information just because they do not like your reason for asking. They must give you the records quickly and at a cheap price. The law assumes that everything should be shared, and offices can only keep things secret if section 6 specifically allows it.
5.Disclosure of information by public entities
(1) Subject to section 6, a public entity shall—
(a) facilitate access to information held by such entity and which information may include—
(i) the particulars of its organization, functions and duties;
(ii) the powers and duties of its officers and employees;
(iii) the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;
(iv) salary scales of its officers by grade;
(v) the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;
(vi) guidelines used by the entity in its dealings with the public or with corporate bodies, including the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions; and
(vii)a guide sufficient to enable any person wishing to apply for information under this Act to identify the classes of information held by it, the subjects to which they relate, the location of any indexes to be inspected by any person;
(b) during the year commencing on first January next following the first publication of information under paragraph (a), and during each succeeding year, cause to be published statements updating the information contained in the previous statement or statements published under that paragraph;
(c) publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect the public, and before initiating any project, or formulating any policy, scheme, programme or law, publish or communicate to the public in general or to the persons likely to be affected thereby in particular, the facts available to it or to which it has reasonable access which in its opinion should be known to them in the best interests of natural justice and promotion of democratic principles;
(d) provide to any person the reasons for any decision taken by it in relation to that person;(e)upon signing any contract, publish on its website or through other suitable media the following particulars in respect of the contract entered into—
(i) the public works, goods acquired or rented, and the contracted service, including any sketches, scopes of service and terms of reference;
(ii) the contract sum;
(iii) the name of the service provider, contractor or individual to whom the contract has been granted; and
(iv) the periods within which the contract shall be completed.
(2) Information shall be disseminated taking into consideration the need to reach persons with disabilities, the cost, local language, the most effective method of communication in that local area, and the information shall be easily accessible and available free or at cost taking into account the medium used.
(3) At a minimum, the material referred to in subsection (1) shall be made available—
(a) for inspection by any person without charge;
(b) by supplying a copy to any person on request for which a reasonable charge to cover the costs of copying and supplying them may be made; and
(c) on the internet, provided that the materials are held by the authority in electronic form.
(4) Subsection (1)(a) shall come into operation twelve months after the commencement of this Act.
Plain English Summary
This section says that government offices must share details about how they work. They must publish what their jobs are, how they make choices, what they pay workers, and a guide on how you can ask them for files. They have to update these details every year.Before starting any new plan or making a choice that affects you, they must share the facts with the public and tell you the reasons for choices made about you. When they sign a business deal or building contract, they must put the details on their website. This includes what they are buying, how much it costs, who got the job, and when it will be finished.All this information must be easy to get for free by looking at it in person, cheaply by asking for copies, or online. They also must make sure the information can reach people with disabilities and is shared in local languages.