Teach the Constitution

Power belongs to the people of Kenya, and this Constitution is the supreme law.

Read: Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

1. Who does all sovereign power belong to?Answer: The people of Kenya (Article 1(1))
2. What is the supreme law of Kenya?Answer: The Constitution (Article 2(1))

Discuss: What would change in your community if everyone knew this chapter?

Kenya as a republic: its territory, languages, symbols, national values and devolved government.

Read: Article 4, Article 5, Article 6, Article 7 · all 8 articles

1. What is the national language of Kenya?Answer: Kiswahili (Article 7(1))
2. What are the official languages of Kenya?Answer: Kiswahili and English (Article 7(2))

Discuss: Who is responsible for making this chapter real, and how can citizens hold them to it?

Who is a Kenyan citizen, how citizenship is gained and when it can be lost.

Read: Article 12, Article 13, Article 14, Article 15 · all 7 articles

1. A person is a citizen by birth if, on the day they were born…Answer: Either their mother or father was a citizen (Article 14(1))
2. If a citizen by birth takes another country's citizenship, they…Answer: Keep their Kenyan citizenship (Article 16)

Discuss: Which part of this chapter matters most where you live? Give one example.

The rights and freedoms every person has, and how they are protected.

Read: Article 19, Article 20, Article 21, Article 22 · all 41 articles

1. How does the Constitution say you cast your vote?Answer: By secret ballot (Article 38(3))
2. What kind of basic education does every child have a right to?Answer: Free and compulsory (Article 53(1))

Discuss: What would change in your community if everyone knew this chapter?

Land ownership and use, and protecting the environment and natural resources.

Read: Article 60, Article 61, Article 62, Article 63 · all 13 articles

1. How does the Constitution classify land in Kenya?Answer: Public, community or private (Article 61(2))
2. A person who is not a citizen can hold land in Kenya…Answer: On leasehold of up to 99 years (Article 65(1))

Discuss: Who is responsible for making this chapter real, and how can citizens hold them to it?

The standards every State officer must meet.

Read: Article 73, Article 74, Article 75, Article 76 · all 8 articles

1. What does the Constitution say about State officers and foreign bank accounts?Answer: They may not keep one except as an Act of Parliament allows (Article 76(2))

Discuss: Which part of this chapter matters most where you live? Give one example.

How you vote: the electoral system, voter registration, the IEBC and political parties.

Read: Article 81, Article 82, Article 83, Article 84 · all 12 articles

1. Who can register as a voter?Answer: An adult citizen (18+) (Article 83(1))
2. How long do you have to file a petition about any election other than the presidential one?Answer: 28 days (Article 87(2))

Discuss: What would change in your community if everyone knew this chapter?

The National Assembly and the Senate: who sits in them and what they do.

Read: Article 93, Article 94, Article 95, Article 96 · all 36 articles

1. When is a general election held?Answer: The second Tuesday in August, every fifth year (Article 101(1))
2. How many county women members sit in the National Assembly?Answer: 47 (Article 97(1))

Discuss: Who is responsible for making this chapter real, and how can citizens hold them to it?

The President, Deputy President and Cabinet, and how they are elected or appointed.

Read: Article 129, Article 130, Article 131, Article 132 · all 30 articles

1. How many terms can one person serve as President?Answer: Two (Article 142(2))
2. Who elects the President?Answer: Registered voters, in a national election (Article 136(1))

Discuss: Which part of this chapter matters most where you live? Give one example.

The courts, the judges and how justice is administered.

Read: Article 159, Article 160, Article 161, Article 162 · all 15 articles

1. How is the Chief Justice appointed?Answer: By the President, on the JSC's recommendation and with National Assembly approval (Article 166(1))
2. How many judges sit on the Supreme Court in total?Answer: 7 (Article 163(1))

Discuss: What would change in your community if everyone knew this chapter?

The 47 counties, their governors and county assemblies.

Read: Article 174, Article 175, Article 176, Article 177 · all 27 articles

1. To run for governor, a person must be eligible for election as…Answer: A member of the county assembly (Article 180(2))
2. What two parts make up each county government?Answer: A county assembly and a county executive (Article 176(1))

Discuss: Who is responsible for making this chapter real, and how can citizens hold them to it?

How public money is raised, shared and spent.

Read: Article 201, Article 202, Article 203, Article 204 · all 31 articles

1. Counties' equitable share must be not less than what share of revenue raised nationally?Answer: 15% (Article 203(2))
2. How much of national revenue goes into the Equalisation Fund each year?Answer: 0.5% (Article 204(1))

Discuss: Which part of this chapter matters most where you live? Give one example.

The public service and the values that guide it.

Read: Article 232, Article 233, Article 234, Article 235 · all 6 articles

Discuss: What would change in your community if everyone knew this chapter?

The defence forces, the intelligence service and the police.

Read: Article 238, Article 239, Article 240, Article 241 · all 10 articles

Discuss: Who is responsible for making this chapter real, and how can citizens hold them to it?

Independent commissions and offices that hold power to account.

Read: Article 248, Article 249, Article 250, Article 251 · all 7 articles

1. Which of these is a constitutional commission under Chapter Fifteen?Answer: The IEBC (Article 248(2))

Discuss: Which part of this chapter matters most where you live? Give one example.

How this Constitution can be amended, by Parliament or by the people.

Read: Article 255, Article 256, Article 257

1. A popular initiative to amend the Constitution needs signatures from at least…Answer: One million registered voters (Article 257(1))
2. A Bill to amend the Constitution cannot be called for second reading until how long after first reading?Answer: 90 days (Article 256(1))

Discuss: What would change in your community if everyone knew this chapter?

General provisions and the meaning of words used in this Constitution.

Read: Article 258, Article 259, Article 260

1. In the Constitution, an "adult" is a person who is at least…Answer: 18 years old (Article 260)

Discuss: Who is responsible for making this chapter real, and how can citizens hold them to it?

Moving from the old Constitution to this one.

Read: Article 261, Article 262, Article 263, Article 264

Discuss: Which part of this chapter matters most where you live? Give one example.