Assessing the Effects of Public Stakeholders’ Diversity on the Legislative Process of the Finance Bill, 2024 in the National Assembly of Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19254897Keywords:
Public participation, stakeholder diversity, Finance Bill 2024, participatory communicationAbstract
This article explores how public stakeholders’ diversity influenced the legislative process of the Finance Bill, 2024, strictly drawing on findings from the thesis. Using a qualitative design involving interviews and focus group discussions, the study reveals that diverse stakeholder groups, including women’s rights organizations, Generation Z activists, pastoralist communities, persons with disabilities, SMEs, clergy, and digital entrepreneurs, contributed significantly to shaping deliberations and specific amendments. Stakeholder diversity enriched deliberative legitimacy, corrected policy blind spots, and strengthened democratic responsiveness. However, competing interests, unequal influence, structural barriers, and weak institutional mechanisms limited the full impact of diverse voices. The article concludes that while diversity contributed to substantive policy shifts and catalyzed public backlash leading to the Bill’s withdrawal, its potential was constrained by political will, organizational capacity, and inadequate facilitation. Recommendations are offered for enhancing inclusive, equitable, and impactful participation in future legislative processes.
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