Members of the National Assembly have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that legislation, public spending, oversight and citizen participation reflect the different realities of the people they are intended to serve.

Officially opening the Regional Forum on Inclusive Legislatures for Gender-Responsive Policies (ILGRP) in Nairobi, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Gladys Boss said inclusive governance must move beyond representation to influence how Parliament makes decisions and responds to the needs of society.

She underscored the need to embed gender-responsive approaches across the work of Parliament, from scrutiny of legislation and national budgets to oversight and public participation, while ensuring that progress made through partnerships is firmly anchored within parliamentary systems and practice.

The two-day forum brings together legislators and parliamentary officials from Kenya, Ghana and Togo, alongside development partners, to share experiences and practical approaches developed through the ILGRP initiative.

Speaking at the event which was hosted the Canadian High Commission, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Ms. Serah Kioko, noted that  Parliament has already translated lessons from the programme into institutional tools covering research, legislative scrutiny, budgeting, oversight and public participation.

She highlighted the development of Maoni Hub, a digital participation platform currently being piloted, as part of efforts to broaden opportunities for citizens to engage with Parliament. She, however, stressed that technology must widen access rather than create new barriers to participation.

“Technology must not become another gatekeeper. It must become a bridge,” she said.
Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya H.E. Joshua Tabah said strong legislatures are central to sustainable development because they connect citizens’ priorities with laws, public resources and accountability.

On his part, Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya, H.E. Joshua Tabah noted that Canada was happy to support the programme.

"Canada is proud to have supported this $9.25 million initiative with the Parliament of Kenya, Ghana and Togo", he stated.

He further pointed out that the support offered through this program is consistent with Canada's broad engagement with Africa.

"Canada's African strategy seeks deeper, mutually beneficial partnerships across economic cooperation, sustainable development, peace and security, democracy and shared interests internationally”, he observed. 

“Institutions that can respond to citizens, translate Public priorities into laws and budgets, exercise effective oversight and adapt as societies change. Legislatures sit at the center of these processes. They connect citizens with the state, policy with public resources, and public commitments with accountability" he told the forum.

The forum which ends tomorrow provides participating legislatures an opportunity to consolidate lessons from the four-year initiative and strengthen approaches that can continue shaping more responsive and inclusive parliamentary practice beyond the life of the project.