A large number of Kenyans participated in the Finance Bill public participation forums before the official deadline yesterday according to news reports. However, a lot of people are unaware that public involvement doesn't end there.
Your right to be heard is not restricted to formal deadlines in a democracy like Kenya. In actuality, public participation is guaranteed by the Constitution to be an ongoing, accessible process rather than merely a one-time formality. You still have the chance to voice your opinions even if you didn't do so by yesterday.
Here is how:
Engage your Member of Parliament directly
Your area MP is your elected representative, and they are still actively participating in parliamentary debates on the Finance Bill and other national. You can get in touch with your MP through social media or their official email, or through his personal assistant. Express your worries directly without hesitation, the least they can do is promise to act on it. Your MP needs to know what you think about fuel levies, land taxes, digital service VAT, and youth employment incentives.
Use the NG-CDF office as a channel
In Kenya, there is a National Government Constituency Development Fund office in each constituency. In addition to providing infrastructure, these offices serve as a practical conduit between the public and the institutions of the national government. You can send written concerns or suggestions to the NG-CDF office, which will then forward them to the appropriate committee of Parliament.
What makes this significant is the fact that Parliament is still in session and the Finance Bill is the most poetized agenda. The Finance Bill 2025 has not yet been signed into law. MPs are actively examining, discussing, and revising it in light of public and expert input. Therefore, if you have strong feelings about something, now is the time to express them. Discussions will go on until the bill is approved by June 30.
Deadlines are not the end of the engagement. Public participation is a continuous civic obligation that builds strong democracies, and even a small voice can influence national policy. Don't wait, make your voice heard. Let's create a Kenya where the people's wisdom and will are reflected in the governance.
