The County Civic Education Bill, 2024
Status Timeline
Proposed
Active now
Public Review
Pending
Debate
Pending
Executive
Pending
Final
Pending
Mandatory Training for Public Officials
Under Section 5, public officials at both national and county levels—including elected and appointed officers—must undergo compulsory civic education. The training focuses on clarifying their roles, responsibilities, and obligations as public servants.
New Registration Regime for Non-State Providers
Sections 11 and 12 require all non-state actors and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) offering civic education within a county to register with the newly established County Civic Education Unit. Applicants must disclose their registered offices, incorporation details, and a detailed description of their educational curriculum.
Up to KSh 500,000 Fine for False Registration Claims
Under Section 20, any person who knowingly provides false or misleading information in their registration application commits an offence. Upon conviction, offenders face a fine of up to KSh 500,000, imprisonment for a term of up to one year, or both.
Dedicated Public Funding and National Grants
Section 9 requires county governments to allocate a portion of their annual budgets specifically to fund civic education. It also permits the National Government to issue conditional grants to counties to support capacity building and local program implementation.
Bill No.
Senate Bill No. 4 of 2024
Gazette No.
Supplement No. 39 of 2024
Sponsor
Esther Okenyuri
Background
Kenya currently lacks a uniform and comprehensive legal framework to coordinate civic education across its forty-seven counties. Existing programs are often fragmented, ad hoc, and underfunded, leading to low public engagement. The County Civic Education Bill, 2024 seeks to resolve these challenges by defining institutional roles, establishing regulatory units, and formalising public-private partnerships in civic training.
Key Amendments
While the Bill is a standalone piece of legislation, it integrates with existing legal structures:
- It incorporates the definition of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) set out in Section 2 of the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Act (No. 19 of 1990).
- It anchors county-level civic frameworks within Section 100 of the County Governments Act, 2012 (No. 17 of 2012).
New Obligations
- Establishment of County Civic Education Units: County executive committee members responsible for devolution must establish and fund dedicated civic education units (Section 7) led by a designated managing officer (Section 10).
- Compulsory Civic Training: Public servants, both elected and appointed, must participate in regular, mandatory civic training regarding their constitutional duties and national values (Section 5).
- Provider Registration and Reporting: Private entities must undergo due diligence, pay prescribed fees, and register with county units before conducting civic education (Section 12). Registered providers are subject to continuous compliance monitoring.
- Annual Performance Reporting: County Civic Education Units are obligated to submit annual implementation and financial utilization reports to their respective County Assemblies and executive committees (Section 21).
Penalties
- False Representation: Submitting false material facts during the registration application process is punishable by a fine not exceeding KSh 500,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both (Section 20).
- De-registration: Under Section 17, county units may de-register any non-state entity that fails to comply with directives, fails to provide requested information, pursues unlawful purposes, or operates outside the framework of Section 100 of the County Governments Act, 2012.
Transitional Provisions
- The Bill does not specify transition timelines for existing providers but authorises the Cabinet Secretary, in consultation with the Council of County Governors, to formulate national guidelines and minimum standards (Section 22).
- County Assemblies are empowered under Section 23 to enact county-specific legislation to complement and fully implement the provisions of this Act within their boundaries.
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Updates will be visible here once they are approved and applied to this bill.