The Parliament of Kenya has made an appeal for views from Kenyans on the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill, 2024 which was recently introduced in the Senate following President William Ruto’s directive on public fundraisers, popularly known as harambees.
In a notice on Friday, August 9, Parliament through the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare invited interested members of the public to submit any representations that they may have on the Bill by way of written memoranda.
“The Public Fundraising Appeals Bill, 2024 (Senate Bills No. 36 of 2024) was read a First Time in the Senate on Thursday, 1” August, 2024 and thereafter stood committed to the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare for consideration,” read part of the notice.
“The Committee is required, understanding order 145(5) of the Senate Standing Orders, to facilitate public participation on the Bill and to take into account the views and recommendations of the public when the Committee makes its report to the Senate.”
The principal object of the Bill is to provide a framework for the regulation of the conduct of public fundraising appeals, harambees.
Public Fundraising Appeals Bill, 2024
According to the Committee, the Bill aims to regulate how harambees are conducted, ensuring transparency and accountability, seeking to replace outdated laws and address issues related to corruption and the misuse of funds.
Also Read: Ruto Promises to Donate Money for Church Building Days After Banning Harambees
The Bill seeks to replace the Public Collections Act (Cap. 106) whose architecture does not fully comply with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
Parliament argues that the Act is also not sufficiently robust in addressing corruption tendencies that are sometimes associated with public fundraising appeals
“Further, the Act excludes from its purview charitable and religious purposes, yet these form a large component of fundraising appeals.
The Appeals Bill, 2024 therefore seeks to promote transparency and accountability in the carrying out of fundraising appeals, to provide for persons who may conduct fundraising appeals and to regulate the participation of State and public officers in fundraising appeals,” added Parliament.
Kenyans who wish to take part in the public participation may submit their memoranda to the Clerk of the Senate, P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi, hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate, Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi.
They may also email the memoranda to clerk.senate@parliament.go.ke and copied to laboursocialwelfarecomm.senate@parliament.go.ke to be received on or before Friday, 30th August 2024 at 5.00 p.m.
In addition, Parliament noted that the Committee will hold a public hearing on the Bill on Monday, 26 August, 2024 at 10.00 a.m. in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall Building, Nairobi which members of the public are welcome to attend.
Ruto Issues Ban for State Officers
The Bill was introduced after President Ruto banned all State officers and government officials from attending harambees in the country following widespread uproar from Kenyans.
Also Read: Ruto Bans Govt Officials from Participating in Harambees
In a past address, President Ruto made the directive while listing a number of decisions made by his government following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.
“No state officer or public servant shall participate in public contributions or any harambees going forward. The Attorney General is hereby directed to provide legislation and provide a mechanism that for structured and transparent contributions for public charitable and philanthropic purposes,” said Ruto.
According to the President, the ban is part of the government’s efforts to improve equality, transparency and efficiency in serving the people of Kenya.
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