Research Profile of Our Activities
Freedom of Information Law & Mining Law Review Process
One of ILEG’s objective is to initiate and help guide public policy reform processes aimed at improving environmental governance and promoting sustainable development. ILEG has been in the fore front in the campaign to have a Freedom of Information law passed in Kenya. Early in the year 2005, the government produced a draft Freedom of Information Bill, a very laudable decision. However, the draft bill had deficiencies that needed to be addressed. ILEG, in partnership with other civil society organizations, participated in several fora to concretize the concerns of civil society with the Freedom of Information Bill. These included organising a civil society workshop on Access to Information. ILEG was part of a ten organization committee formed to spearhead the campaign to pass through parliament a Freedom of Information Act, participated in the “Right to Know” day and, participated in efforts to lobby Members of Parliament to present the bill in parliament and to champion it to be enacted as law.
ILEG looks forward to the success of this initiative as it will greatly increase access to environmental justice in Kenya.
Still on Policy reform processes, The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in January 2004 (with support form the commonwealth secretariat) did produce proposals for a mining policy and law. However, the process of developing the two documents was not consultative. ILEG believes that a new and comprehensive Mining Policy and Law are critical for environmental governance in Kenya. Controversies surrounding the Titanium Mining project in Kwale revealed weaknesses in the current legal and policy framework.
ILEG in 2005 spearheaded efforts for civil society organizations to participate in and engage the government in the process of developing the Mining Policy and law. Towards this end, ILEG organized consultation on the draft produced in 2004 by the commonwealth Secretariat. This project will continue into 206 and together with other civil society organizations ILEG intends to ensure that the government develops the Law and Policy in consultation with all stakeholders and that the eventual product is one that promotes ecologically sustainable development.
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