The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy has published the Access to Information Policy, 2026, establishing a framework to strengthen public access to information held by government institutions and certain private bodies.
The policy, published under Gazette Notice No. 15992, seeks to safeguard the constitutional right to information while promoting transparency, accountability and public participation in governance.
It is anchored in Article 35 of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees citizens the right to access information held by the State and information held by another person where it is required for the exercise or protection of a right or fundamental freedom.
The framework is also aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 development blueprint and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which promote accountable institutions and inclusive governance.
According to the policy, effective implementation will require coordinated efforts across different sectors, including government agencies, private businesses, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, the media and academia.
These stakeholders are expected to play a role in promoting awareness of the right to information and supporting the implementation of measures that improve access to public records and other relevant information.
The policy places access to information within the broader framework of protecting civil, political and socio-economic rights, recognising transparency as an important component of accountable public administration.
Its implementation is expected to strengthen the framework through which citizens seek information from public institutions and eligible private entities.
The policy’s effectiveness will depend on how the proposed framework is implemented across institutions and how consistently the right to information is upheld in practice.
