Simplified Constitution
The Constitution explained in words everyone can understand.
Start with a topic
All topics →When police stop or arrest you
What the police must tell you, your right to stay silent, and bail.
Your rights in court
Fair hearing, being presumed innocent, lawyers and interpreters.
Speaking out, information and elections
Freedom of expression, access to information, peaceful protest and voting.
Equality, dignity and privacy
Equal treatment, human dignity, personal privacy and disability rights.
Your rights at work
Fair pay, safe conditions, joining a union and going on strike.
Health, education and basic needs
Health care, housing, food, water, social security and school.
Land, housing and property
Owning property and protection from unfair seizure or eviction.
All simplified articles
- Art. 1Sovereignty of the people
- Art. 2Supremacy of this Constitution
- Art. 3Defence of this Constitution
- Art. 4Declaration of the Republic
- Art. 5Territory of Kenya
- Art. 6Devolution and access to services
- Art. 7National, official and other languages
- Art. 8State and religion
- Art. 9National symbols and national days
- Art. 10National values and principles of governance
- Art. 11Culture
- Art. 12Entitlements of citizens
- Art. 13Retention and acquisition of citizenship
- Art. 14Citizenship by birth
- Art. 15Citizenship by registration
- Art. 16Dual citizenship
- Art. 17Revocation of citizenship
- Art. 18Legislation on citizenship
- Art. 19Rights and fundamental freedoms
- Art. 20Application of Bill of Rights
- Art. 21Implementation of rights and fundamental freedoms
- Art. 22Enforcement of Bill of Rights
- Art. 23Authority of courts to uphold and enforce the Bill of Rights
- Art. 24Limitation of rights and fundamental freedoms
- Art. 25Fundamental Rights and freedoms that may not be limited
- Art. 26Right to life
- Art. 27Equality and freedom from discrimination
- Art. 28Human dignity
- Art. 29Freedom and security of the person
- Art. 30Slavery, servitude and forced labour
- Art. 31Privacy
- Art. 32Freedom of conscience, religion, belief and opinion
- Art. 33Freedom of expression
- Art. 34Freedom of the media
- Art. 35Access to information
- Art. 36Freedom of association
- Art. 37Assembly, demonstration, picketing and petition
- Art. 38Political rights
- Art. 39Freedom of movement and residence
- Art. 40Protection of right to property
- Art. 41Labour relations
- Art. 42Environment
- Art. 43Economic and social rights
- Art. 44Language and culture
- Art. 45Family
- Art. 46Consumer rights
- Art. 47Fair administrative action
- Art. 48Access to justice
- Art. 49Rights of arrested persons
- Art. 50Fair hearing
- Art. 51Rights of persons detained, held in custody or imprisoned
- Art. 52Interpretation of this Part
- Art. 53Children
- Art. 54Persons with disabilities
- Art. 55Youth
- Art. 56Minorities and marginalised groups
- Art. 57Older members of society
- Art. 58State of emergency
- Art. 59Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission
- Art. 60Principles of land policy
- Art. 61Classification of land
- Art. 62Public land
- Art. 63Community land
- Art. 64Private land
- Art. 65Landholding by non-citizens
- Art. 66Regulation of land use and property
- Art. 67National Land Commission
- Art. 68Legislation on land
- Art. 69Obligations in respect of the environment
- Art. 70Enforcement of environmental rights
- Art. 71Agreements relating to natural resources
- Art. 72Legislation relating to the environment
- Art. 73Responsibilities of leadership
- Art. 74Oath of office of State officers
- Art. 75Conduct of State officers
- Art. 76Financial probity of State officers
- Art. 77Restriction on activities of State officers
- Art. 78Citizenship and leadership
- Art. 79Legislation to establish the ethics and anti-corruption commission
- Art. 80Legislation on leadership
- Art. 81General principles for the electoral system
- Art. 82Legislation on elections
- Art. 83Registration as a voter
- Art. 84Candidates for election and political parties to comply with code of conduct
- Art. 85Eligibility to stand as an independent candidate
- Art. 86Voting
- Art. 87Electoral disputes
- Art. 88Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
- Art. 89Delimitation of electoral units
- Art. 90Allocation of party list seats
- Art. 91Basic requirements for political parties
- Art. 92Legislation on political parties
- Art. 93Establishment of Parliament
- Art. 94Role of Parliament
- Art. 95Role of the National Assembly
- Art. 96Role of the Senate
- Art. 97Membership of the National Assembly
- Art. 98Membership of the Senate
- Art. 99Qualifications and disqualifications for election as member of Parliament
- Art. 100Promotion of representation of marginalised groups
- Art. 101Election of members of Parliament
- Art. 102Term of Parliament
- Art. 103Vacation of office of member of Parliament
- Art. 104Right of recall
- Art. 105Determination of questions of membership
- Art. 106Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliament
- Art. 107Presiding in Parliament
- Art. 108Party leaders
- Art. 109Exercise of legislative powers
- Art. 110Bills concerning county government
- Art. 111Special Bills concerning county governments
- Art. 112Ordinary Bills concerning county governments
- Art. 113Mediation committees
- Art. 114Money Bills
- Art. 115Presidential assent and referral
- Art. 116Coming into force of laws
- Art. 117Powers, privileges and immunities
- Art. 118Public access and participation
- Art. 119Right to petition Parliament
- Art. 120Official languages of Parliament
- Art. 121Quorum
- Art. 122Voting in Parliament
- Art. 123Decisions of Senate
- Art. 124Committees and Standing Orders
- Art. 125Power to call for evidence
- Art. 126Location of sittings of Parliament
- Art. 127Parliamentary Service Commission
- Art. 128Clerks and staff of Parliament
- Art. 129Principles of executive authority
- Art. 130The National Executive
- Art. 131Authority of the President
- Art. 132Functions of the President
- Art. 133Power of mercy
- Art. 134Exercise of presidential powers during temporary incumbency
- Art. 135Decisions of the President
- Art. 136Election of the President
- Art. 137Qualifications and disqualifications for election as President
- Art. 138Procedure at presidential election
- Art. 139Death before assuming office
- Art. 140Questions as to validity of presidential election
- Art. 141Assumption of office of President
- Art. 142Term of office of President
- Art. 143Protection from legal proceedings
- Art. 144Removal of President on grounds of incapacity
- Art. 145Removal of President by impeachment
- Art. 146Vacancy in the office of President
- Art. 147Functions of the Deputy President
- Art. 148Election and swearing-in of Deputy President
- Art. 149Vacancy in the office of Deputy President
- Art. 150Removal of Deputy President
- Art. 151Remuneration and benefits of President and Deputy President
- Art. 152Cabinet
- Art. 153Decisions, responsibility and accountability of the Cabinet
- Art. 154Secretary to the Cabinet
- Art. 155Principal Secretaries
- Art. 156Attorney-General
- Art. 157Director of Public Prosecutions
- Art. 158Removal and resignation of Director of Public Prosecutions
- Art. 159Judicial authority
- Art. 160Independence of the Judiciary
- Art. 161Judicial offices and officers
- Art. 162System of courts
- Art. 163Supreme Court
- Art. 164Court of Appeal
- Art. 165High Court
- Art. 166Appointment of Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and other judges
- Art. 167Tenure of office of the Chief Justice and other judges
- Art. 168Removal from office
- Art. 169Subordinate courts
- Art. 170Kadhis’ courts
- Art. 171Establishment of the Judicial Service Commission
- Art. 172Functions of the Judicial Service Commission
- Art. 173Judiciary Fund
- Art. 174Objects of devolution
- Art. 175Principles of devolved government
- Art. 176County governments
- Art. 177Membership of county assembly
- Art. 178Speaker of a county assembly
- Art. 179County executive committees
- Art. 180Election of county governor and deputy county governor
- Art. 181Removal of a county governor
- Art. 182Vacancy in the office of county governor
- Art. 183Functions of county executive committees
- Art. 184Urban areas and cities
- Art. 185Legislative authority of county assemblies
- Art. 186Respective functions and powers of national and county governments
- Art. 187Transfer of functions and powers between levels of government
- Art. 188Boundaries of counties
- Art. 189Cooperation between national and county governments
- Art. 190Support for county governments
- Art. 191Conflict of laws
- Art. 192Suspension of a county government
- Art. 193Qualifications for election as member of county assembly
- Art. 194Vacation of office of member of county assembly
- Art. 195County assembly power to summon witnesses
- Art. 196Public participation and county assembly powers, privileges and immunities
- Art. 197County assembly gender balance and diversity
- Art. 198County government during transition
- Art. 199Publication of county legislation
- Art. 200Legislation on Chapter
- Art. 201Principles of public finance
- Art. 202Equitable sharing of national revenue
- Art. 203Equitable share and other financial laws
- Art. 204Equalisation Fund
- Art. 205Consultation on financial legislation affecting counties
- Art. 206Consolidated Fund and other public funds
- Art. 207Revenue Funds for county governments
- Art. 208Contingencies Fund
- Art. 209Power to impose taxes and charges
- Art. 210Imposition of tax
- Art. 211Borrowing by national government
- Art. 212Borrowing by counties
- Art. 213Loan guarantees by national government
- Art. 214Public debt
- Art. 215Commission on Revenue Allocation
- Art. 216Functions of the Commission on Revenue Allocation
- Art. 217Division of revenue
- Art. 218Annual Division and Allocation of Revenue Bills
- Art. 219Transfer of equitable share
- Art. 220Form, content and timing of budgets
- Art. 221Budget estimates and annual Appropriation Bill
- Art. 222Expenditure before annual budget is passed
- Art. 223Supplementary appropriation
- Art. 224County appropriation Bills
- Art. 225Financial control
- Art. 226Accounts and audit of public entities
- Art. 227Procurement of public goods and services
- Art. 228Controller of Budget
- Art. 229Auditor-General
- Art. 230Salaries and Remuneration Commission
- Art. 231Central Bank of Kenya
- Art. 232Values and principles of public service
- Art. 233The Public Service Commission
- Art. 234Functions and powers of the Public Service Commission
- Art. 235Staffing of county governments
- Art. 236Protection of public officers
- Art. 237Teachers Service Commission
- Art. 238Principles of national security
- Art. 239National security organs
- Art. 240Establishment of the National Security Council
- Art. 241Establishment of Kenya Defence Forces and Defence Council
- Art. 242Establishment of National Intelligence Service
- Art. 243Establishment of the National Police Service
- Art. 244Objects and functions of the National Police Service
- Art. 245Command of the National Police Service
- Art. 246National Police Service Commission
- Art. 247Other police services
- Art. 248Application of Chapter
- Art. 249Objects, authority and funding of commissions and independent offices
- Art. 250Composition, appointment and terms of office
- Art. 251Removal from office
- Art. 252General functions and powers
- Art. 253Incorporation of commissions and independent offices
- Art. 254Reporting by commissions and independent offices
- Art. 255Amendment of this Constitution
- Art. 256Amendment by parliamentary initiative
- Art. 257Amendment by popular initiative
- Art. 258Enforcement of this Constitution
- Art. 259Construing this Constitution
- Art. 260Interpretation
- Art. 261Consequential legislation
- Art. 262Transitional and consequential provisions
- Art. 263Effective Date
- Art. 264Repeal of previous Constitution