Beth Odek

The Judiciary is not the only guardian of the Constitution.Kenyans, too, have a constitutional duty to protect and defend it.The courts have issued conservatory orders;now the people must stand behind them and reject any attempt to turn Kenya into an offshore quarantine facility.

Orders granted! The Court certified the application as urgent and granted interim conservatory orders restraining the Respondents from establishing, operationalising, approving, or facilitating any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation, or treatment facility in Kenya under any arrangement with the United States or any other foreign government or agency, pending the hearing of the application. The Court further barred the Respondents from admitting into, transferring to, receiving within, or facilitating the entry into Kenya of any persons exposed to or infected with Ebola pursuant to the impugned arrangement. The matter is scheduled for mention on 2nd June 2026 for further directions.

Katiba Institute Files a Petition Challenging the Proposed Establishment of Ebola Quarantine and Treatment Facilities in Kenya: Katiba Institute is challenging the proposed establishment of a quarantine facility for American citizens exposed to Ebola and other highly infectious diseases in Kenya. The petition, through Counsel @joshuamalidzo, has been filed under a certificate of urgency. It is brought against the Attorney-General, (1st Respondent) and the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health (2nd Respondent). To ensure transparency, accountability, and court oversight before a final determination is made, KI is asking the Court to urgently: Halt Facility Operations: Restrain the Respondents from establishing, operationalising, or approving any Ebola quarantine or treatment facility in Kenya under any arrangement with the United States or other foreign governments, pending the hearing and determination of the matter. Prevent Entry of Exposed Persons: Bar the Respondents and their agents from receiving, transferring, or facilitating the entry into Kenya of any individuals exposed or infected with Ebola under the impugned arrangement. Compel Contingency Planning: Require the Cabinet Secretary for Health to prepare and present to the Court, within 24 hours, a comprehensive contingency plan detailing Kenya’s preparedness measures for the prevention, surveillance, control, and response to any potential Ebola outbreak. Mandate Full Disclosure: Compel the Respondents to disclose to KI and the public the full terms for any arrangements or negotiations regarding the proposed facility. This includes all related public health, environmental, biosafety, or security assessments; regulatory and parliamentary approvals; and the specific protocols for the admission and treatment of exposed persons. The case affirms that even in matters of diplomacy and public health, the Constitution remains supreme and binding on all State organs. The secretive, unilateral establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility raises grave constitutional concerns regarding the rights to life, health, fair administrative action, public participation, and parliamentary oversight. “KI is asking the Court to determine whether the Executive can expose the public to such significant risks without complying with constitutional safeguards. At its core, the case is about preserving constitutional accountability, protecting public health, and ensuring that no government may place expediency above the lives and safety of the people of Kenya.” - @NoraMbagathi , Executive Director, Katiba Institute. Get more details about the Petition via katibainstitute.org/katiba-institu…

Hey VIP Tribe, There are many important Bills at public participation stage. This is your opportunity to read and submit your views. Among those currently open are: • The Finance Bill, 2026 parliament.go.ke/sites/default/… • The Referendum Bill, 2026 parliament.go.ke/sites/default/… • Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, 2026 treasury.go.ke/sites/default/… • Public Finance Management (National/County Governments) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 treasury.go.ke/sites/default/… • Draft Public Finance Management (E-Citizen System Management) Regulations, 2026 treasury.go.ke/sites/default/… • Consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the National Government for FY 2026/2027 and the Medium-Term. Most submission deadlines fall between 24th–29th May 2026. Please don’t sit this one out. #VIP

I said it before, am saying it again, one day someone will look at Kenya and say, here lie the ruins of a country destroyed by greed.

Congratulations, @JohnSibiOkumu, our Board Member, on this well-deserved recognition.

'Thee cost of a damaged national image is paid daily by ordinary citizens, not the few loud offenders who caused it!' #AccountableGovernance #TermLimits #PublicDebtAccountability

Kenya’s Finance Bill 2026 Explained Save and Share the thread below:

Championing Indigenous Land Rights: Katiba Institute Meets Mau Ogiek Community Earlier today, Katiba Institute held a meeting with representatives of the Mau Ogiek Community in Nakuru County to discuss community land rights and historical land injustices. The Mau Ogiek are an indigenous minority ethnic community in Kenya that has long advocated for the protection of their rights to property, community land, cultural heritage, and freedom of religion. The meeting provided an important platform for dialogue on the rights of indigenous people. It also empowered community members through discussions on various advocacy mechanisms that can be used to advance and protect their rights. #CommunityLandRights #MauOgiek #MinorityEthnicCommunities

Police Accountability: Police commanders should be liable for deaths during protests standardmedia.co.ke/crime-and-just… @StandardKenya

Public debt accountability: #AccountableGovernanceKE

Katiba Institute moves to court to block Murkomen’s directive granting police state legal support eastleighvoice.co.ke/news/344257/ka… @Eastleighvoice

Debt: More pain as Sh1.3 trillion of Kenya's Sh4.8 trillion budget goes into debt repayment #story" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">nation.africa/kenya/business… @NationAfrica #Debt #AccoutableGovernanceKE #Accountability

We join other stakeholders worldwide in marking World Press Freedom Day and highlighting the importance of a free and independent press under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace.” The Constitution of Kenya guarantees a robust framework for media freedom through Articles 33, 34, and 35. Article 33 protects the right to freedom of expression, allowing individuals and the media to seek, receive, and share information and ideas. Article 34 secures the freedom and independence of the media by prohibiting State interference, censorship, or control over editorial content, while also requiring that regulatory mechanisms remain independent. Article 35 complements these rights by granting citizens access to information, thereby promoting transparency and supporting investigative journalism. These provisions ensure that the media can operate freely, inform the public, and hold power accountable. In Nairobi, we are pleased to join the @MediaCouncilK at Strathmore University to mark this important day. The event has lined up key discussions, including the State of the Media Report 2025 and the impact of political intolerance on media freedom. #WorldPressFreedom #WPFD2026 .@UNESCO

Voting is a constitutional right: Register as voters to enjoy democratic right nation.africa/kenya/blogs-op… @NationAfrica Editorial #Elections

Shaping Legal Practice for Climate Justice: Today, @katibainstitute, in partnership with @NamatiKenya, is training lawyers on climate and environmental justice, focusing on the skills required to engage in this fast-evolving field. Across Kenya and beyond, courts are shaping how climate change is addressed, while international advisory processes are clarifying state obligations. These developments are influencing how laws are interpreted, applied, and enforced. As climate-related cases and legal obligations grow, legal practitioners play a critical role in advancing environmental justice, strengthening accountability, and guiding advisory work. This training equips participants with practical tools and knowledge to engage more effectively in climate governance, from litigation to legal advisory. #ClimateJustice #EnvironmentalGovernance #AccesstoInformation

Sustaining Access to Information gains: Katiba Institute held a courtesy call with Geoffrey Mosiria, Chief Officer for Public Participation, Citizen Engagement and Customer Service at the Nairobi City County Government. The meeting comes at a transition point as the Access to Information (ATI) project concludes, while emphasising the importance of continued collaboration. Over the past two and a half years, Katiba Institute has supported Nairobi City County by training public officers on proactive disclosure of information and ATI compliance. Discussions highlighted the need to develop a county-specific framework aligned with the national Access to Information Act to strengthen implementation at the county level. While progress has been made, both parties acknowledged areas for improvement. There was also emphasis on improving responsiveness and accountability, including ensuring timely responses to ATI requests and strengthening public participation processes to clearly demonstrate, over time, how citizen input informs decision-making. The engagement reaffirmed a shared commitment to sustained citizen engagement and to strengthening the relationship between public institutions and the people, who remain the ultimate owners of government. #IDeserveToKnow

Memorandum: Public Participation Bill, 2025 (National Assembly Bills No. 44) The Public Participation Bill, 2025, seeks to guide citizens' engagement with government decisions in Kenya. Over time, various drafts of this Bill have demonstrated real progress, reflecting Kenya’s dedication to strengthening democracy and amplifying citizens' voices in governance. This Bill should serve as a clear and guiding framework for both national and county governments, ensuring public participation remains consistent, inclusive, and accountable. In our Memorandum, @katibainstitute proposes that the Bill be anchored in the Constitution, particularly Articles 1, 10, 118, 174, 201 and 221(5), to embed public participation within both devolved governance and national budget processes. It also advocates for mandatory inclusivity measures, prior civic education and public sensitisation, and guaranteed access to information through the timely publication of materials in accessible formats and languages. Currently, the Bill risks reducing public participation to a procedural formality, rather than the meaningful, people-driven process envisioned by the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Representing Katiba Institute before the Parliament committee are @hp_gichana and @beth_odek