KELIN set to train Civil Society Organizations working on Reproductive Health on their role in law making processes

Civil society organizations are an important channel for formulation of laws. Though they are directly not responsible for the passage of any law, they are recognized as a mechanism that has the capacity to persuade the government, through sustained advocacy, to formulate laws central to the interest of the society. Through such processes, civil society is seen as an important agent for law making and promotion of good governance principles including transparency, effectiveness, openness, responsiveness and accountability.

In recognition of the importance of civil societies in the law making process, KELIN will be conducting a one day training for Nairobi based civil society organizations on 17th May 2017 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Nairobi. The training will sensitize participants on the bill making process at the county, national and regional levels and the role the civil society plays in the bill making process. The objectives of the training are to:

  • introduce participants to the current legislative bills on reproductive health at national and East Africa Community levels;
  • introduce participants to the basic concepts of bill making processes at the East Africa Legislative Assembly;
  • explore avenues within which Kenyan civil society participation can boost the content of the current EAC Sexual and reproductive bill.

The meeting will focus on three main bills touching on health including: the East Africa Community Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill, the Kenya Reproductive Health Care Bill and the Nakuru Maternal Newborn Child Health Bill which all seek to provide a legal framework for matters relating to sexual and reproductive health. Some of the invited speakers include Hon Senator Judith Sijeny, Hon Farida Salim from the Kisumu County Assembly, Dr Stellah Bosire of Kenya Medical Association, Ms Maureen Bwisa of EANNASO and Hon Nancy Abisai, a member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly.

As a result of this meeting, KELIN hopes that more civil society organizations can be aggressively engaged in bill making processes and contribute towards constitutionally aligned laws in the reproductive health sector.

Click here to download the Event Programme

Click here to download the Concept Note

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For more information contact:

Tabitha Saoyo,

Programme Manager, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, KELIN

4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road

Tel +254202515790; Cell +254 790 339963;

Email: tsaoyo@kelinkenya.org