CHAPTER 4: THE BILL OF RIGHTSPART 2 — RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

37. Assembly, demonstration, picketing and petition

Navigate this Chapter (41 Articles)

• 19. Rights and fundamental freedoms
• 20. Application of Bill of Rights
• 21. Implementation of rights and fundamental freedoms
• 22. Enforcement of Bill of Rights
• 23. Authority of courts to uphold and enforce the Bill of Rights
• 24. Limitation of rights and fundamental freedoms
• 25. Fundamental rights and freedoms that may not be limited
• 26. Right to life
• 27. Equality and freedom from discrimination
• 28. Human dignity
• 29. Freedom and security of the person
• 30. Slavery, servitude and forced labour
• 31. Privacy
• 32. Freedom of conscience, religion, belief and opinion
• 33. Freedom of expression
• 34. Freedom of the media
• 35. Access to information
• 36. Freedom of association
• 37. Assembly, demonstration, picketing and petition (Current)
• 38. Political rights
• 39. Freedom of movement and residence
• 40. Protection of right to property
• 41. Labour relations
• 42. Environment
• 43. Economic and social rights
• 44. Language and culture
• 45. Family
• 46. Consumer rights
• 47. Fair administrative action
• 48. Access to justice
• 49. Rights of arrested persons
• 50. Fair hearing
• 51. Rights of persons detained, held in custody or imprisoned
• 52. Interpretation of this Part
• 53. Children
• 54. Persons with disabilities
• 55. Youth
• 56. Minorities and marginalised groups
• 57. Older members of society
• 58. State of emergency
• 59. Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission

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In this Chapter

Official Constitutional Text

37. Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities.

Plain English Explanation

This is a simplified summary prepared by legal scholars to explain this article in clear language. It is not the legal text of the Constitution.

This article protects the right to peaceful public assembly and protest.

It guarantees every Kenyan the freedom to:
- Assemble (hold meetings or gatherings)
- Demonstrate and protest
- Picket (e.g., strike or protest outside workplaces)
- Present petitions to government authorities

These rights must be exercised peacefully and unarmed.

This is a core democratic right that allows citizens to express dissent and demand accountability.