The National Assembly has co-hosted a regional forum in Nairobi bringing together parliamentary leaders, legislators and experts from Kenya, Ghana, Togo and Canada to discuss ways of making legislatures more inclusive, accountable and responsive to citizens.
The high-level forum, which opened on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, is being held under the theme, “Sharing Achievements and Advancing Forward-Looking Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Parliaments.”
The forum is hosted by the Parliament of Kenya through the National Assembly in partnership with the Canadian High Commission under the Inclusive Legislatures for Gender-Responsive Policies (ILGRP) Project.
Discussions are focusing on strengthening lawmaking, public budgeting, oversight of government spending and citizen participation in parliamentary processes.
The forum seeks to examine how parliaments can improve scrutiny of public resources while widening participation and ensuring that parliamentary processes reflect the interests of the people they represent.
The meeting builds on four years of collaboration under the ILGRP Project, which has supported the parliaments of Kenya, Ghana and Togo in strengthening gender responsiveness and inclusion across legislative processes.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) in collaboration with the Parliamentary Centre, the project has provided a platform for participating legislatures to develop and share approaches to inclusive legislation, oversight, budgeting and public participation.
The National Assembly said the forum will go beyond reviewing achievements, with participating parliaments expected to share practical experiences and explore approaches for widening inclusion and strengthening public participation.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Boss is expected to officially open the forum alongside Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya Joshua Tabah.
Other participants include Members of Parliament, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Serah Kioko and delegates from the parliaments of Ghana and Togo.
The regional meeting comes amid broader efforts by legislatures to strengthen citizen participation, gender-responsive policymaking and oversight of public resources while ensuring parliamentary institutions remain accountable to the people they serve.
