Lesson 1 of 4 ยท Form 4 History and Government
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Bill of Rights
15 min
The 2010 Constitution
- Passed in a referendum on 4 August 2010 and promulgated on 27 August 2010.
- Has 18 chapters. It is the supreme law of Kenya.
Key features
- Bill of Rights (Chapter Four).
- Devolved government with 47 counties.
- A bicameral parliament (National Assembly and Senate).
- Independent commissions (e.g. IEBC, the National Land Commission).
- Leadership and integrity (Chapter Six).
Bill of Rights
Rights belong to every person and can only be limited by law where reasonable.
- Civil and political: life, equality, freedom of expression, assembly, vote.
- Economic and social: health, housing, education, food, water.
- Group rights: children, persons with disabilities, youth, minorities, older members of society.
Responsibilities of citizens
Obey the law, pay taxes, vote, respect the rights of others, protect the environment.
Amending the constitution
By parliamentary initiative or popular initiative (at least one million signatures); some changes need a referendum.
Key points to remember
- Promulgated 27 August 2010
- Chapter Four: Bill of Rights
- 47 counties
- Popular initiative needs one million signatures
