Tuesday, 17 June, 2025
Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Committee considers propasal to establish parliamentary corners in public libraries to boost civic education
Friday, June 13th 2025
Members of a National Assembly Committee have backed a proposal to establish Parliamentary Corners inside public libraries across the country, an initiave that seeks to bring Parliament closer to the people by giving the public direct access to legislative documents and civic-education programmes.
In a consultative meeting chaired by Hon. Daniel Nanok, Committee Members engaged Ms. Purity Kavuri, Assistant Director, Kenya National Library Service, Mr. Joseph Mboji, Secretary General, Association of Government Librarians, Prof. Arnold Mwanzu, Chairperson, Kenya Libraries and Information Services Consortium and Mr. Harrison Owino, Ag. Director ICT And Library, Parliamentary Joint Service.
If implemented, the initiative will see designated spaces within public libraries equipped with parliamentary documents, internet access to Parliament’s digital platforms, and trained staff to assist the public in navigating legislative content.
“This is a big win for public engagement,” said Hon. Timothy Torotich a voiced his support. “It’s not just about reading laws it's about enabling the public to participate meaningfully in our democracy. Every Kenyan should have access to information about what their Parliament is doing.”
The proposed initiative is a collaborative effort between the Parliament of Kenya Library and the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS). Parliamentary Librarians will supply official documents—such as Hansards, Bills, Acts, committee reports, and civic education brochures while public libraries will provide physical space, connectivity, and staff at selected libraries.
“We see this as a partnership,” said Ms. Purity Kavuri, Assistant Director at KNLS. “Libraries are already trusted spaces in communities. By hosting Parliamentary Corners, we are transforming these spaces into civic learning centers.”
The Parliamentary Corners will feature dedicated sections with printed and digital materials, computers connected to Parliament’s online portals, and trained librarians to guide users.
“We must go beyond storage of books and make libraries centers of democratic learning,” said Prof. Arnold Mwanzu, Chairperson of the Kenya Libraries and Information Services Consortium. “This initiative allows Parliament to speak directly to the people.”
Lawmakers and stakeholders acknowledged hurdles ahead. Funding remains a key concern, with the Parliamentary Library expected to shoulder the cost of reproducing and distributing documents, as well as training staff.
The Committee noted that public libraries now fall under the jurisdiction of county governments after devolution was finalized in 2023, complicating the national rollout of the program.
“We’ll need formal MoUs with counties,” explained Ms. Purity Kavuti, Assistant Director, Kenya National Libraries Sevirve. “But we’re optimistic. Many counties understand the value of civic engagement.”
Lawmakers voiced support for the initiative, with several volunteering their constituencies for pilot programs. Hon. Shakeel Shabir proposed that his ICT hub in Kisumu West be used as a model Parliamentary Corner.
Hon. Abdi Abdirahman Mohammed called for a national audit of library facilities to ensure equal representation across regions.
“We must ensure that information is not only available in Nairobi,” he said. “The whole idea is to ensure even someone in Mandera or Turkana can access it.”
The Directorate of ICT and Library Services is expected to submit a full implementation roadmap to the Committee within two months. If funding is secured in the 2025/2026 budget cycle, the first Parliamentary Corners could launch by early 2026.
Beyond physical access, MPs emphasized the symbolic power of the initiative.
“This is not just a library program,” Hon. Nanok said in his closing remarks. “This is about trust—between Parliament and the people. And trust begins with transparency.”