By Bonface Waweru and Lindah Kiyeng
The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), also known as the Office of the Ombudsman, today released a pivotal report detailing the milestones and challenges in the implementation of the Access to Information Act, 2016. The launch event, held at the historic Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, brought together government officials, civil society leaders, media stakeholders, and diplomatic partners to reflect on Kenya’s journey toward transparency and accountability.
The report—released nearly a decade after the Act was enacted—offers a comprehensive evaluation of how public institutions have responded to the legal mandate to provide citizens with access to public information. It highlights significant gains in institutional awareness, policy development, and public demand for information, while also candidly outlining persistent bottlenecks such as bureaucratic delays, lack of capacity among public officers, and inconsistent enforcement.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Commission noted that access to information is not merely a legal right, but a cornerstone of good governance, civic empowerment, and anti-corruption efforts. “This report is both a celebration of progress and a call to action. As a nation, we must double down on building a culture of openness that extends from the highest offices to the grassroots,” she said.
The launch was made possible through the support of key partners in the civic and diplomatic sectors. Civil society organization Uraia Trust, known for its work in civic education and democratic governance, co-sponsored the event alongside the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Their joint support underscores the growing global emphasis on the role of information access in strengthening democracies.
Representatives from Uraia and the Norwegian Embassy emphasized their continued commitment to supporting governance initiatives in Kenya, with the Ambassador describing access to information as “the lifeblood of accountability in modern societies.”
Among the report’s key recommendations are the need for:
- Enhanced training and resourcing of public information officers;
- Stronger oversight and enforcement mechanisms;
- Harmonization of the Act with other existing laws that restrict information access;
- Increased public awareness on citizens’ right to information.
Stakeholders present called for the immediate adoption of a national framework for data classification and proactive disclosure, arguing that many agencies continue to operate in opacity due to outdated secrecy codes.
As the country prepares for the tenth anniversary of the Access to Information Act in 2026, the Ombudsman’s report sets the stage for renewed momentum. It challenges both public institutions and citizens to champion the principle that information belongs to the people—and that true power lies in transparency.