Engendering governance through the constitutional review process

Abstract

In this paper, I proceed from the premise mat democratic governance is a desirable form of conducting and regulating public affairs in Kenya and which we should endeavor to achieve. I am further arguing mat democratic governance can only be achieved when all citizens are effective participants in it, in a context where an enabling environment exists for citizens to exercise their rights, obligations and advance their interests. I define Governance as the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority to manage a nation's affairs. It is the complex mechanisms, processes, relationships and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their rights and obligations and mediate their differences. Governance encompasses every institutions and organisation in the society, from the family to the state and embraces all methods - good and bad - that societies use to distribute power and manage public resources and problems. Good governance is therefore a subset of governance, wherein public resources and problems are managed effectively, efficiently and in response to critical needs of society. Effective democratic forms of governance rely on public participation, accountability and transparency