Effects of citizen engagement strategies on the legislative process of the Finance Bill, 2024, in the National Assembly of Kenya

Abstract

Citizen engagement, which is a key element of participatory communication, is the pillar of participation by members of the public in the legislative process. It is the principle measure of what defines a democracy (Mburu, 2020). It is a two-way involvement of citizens in their government’s activities and decision-making processes, fostering transparency, accountability, and collaboration to improve public policies and community well-being. Consequently, it enables citizens to share their perspectives, contribute ideas, and hold officials accountable, leading to better-informed decisions that reflect the community’s needs and values (Kiguta, 2020). Methods for engagement include public meetings and consultations, online platforms and participatory budgeting, all aiming to build trust and a stronger democratic society. This study therefore aimed at examining the role of citizen engagement in the legislative process of the Finance Bill, 2024, in Kenya’s National Assembly. Guided by Participatory Communication and Deliberative Theories, the study employed a qualitative design. The target population included 349 Members of Parliament and 2,109,284 Generation Z citizens (aged 18–28) from Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Kisumu. A purposive and quota sample of 60 respondents was drawn: 20 MPs (including committee members, liaison officers, and key informants) and 40 youth participants in four focus groups. Piloting was done with Senators and Machakos residents. Data was collected through interviews and FGDs and analysed using NVivo 9 with both content and thematic analysis. Findings revealed that citizen engagement, especially digital activism, raised awareness and improved debate quality but had little policy impact due to weak feedback loops, partisan dominance, and institutional capacity gaps. Public participation was therefore largely symbolic, undermining trust and weakening legislative legitimacy. The study concludes that citizen engagement in Kenya’s legislative process remains superficial without neutrality, inclusivity, structured feedback, and institutional commitment. It recommends impartial facilitation, decentralized and inclusive engagement formats, and institutionalized feedback systems. Parliament should strengthen its capacity to process submissions, track amendments transparently, and demonstrate how citizen input shapes legislation. Embedding these reforms would enhance responsiveness, rebuild trust, and improve the democratic legitimacy of future bills.