Act 6
Access to Information Act
2005
THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005.
An Act to provide for the right of access to information pursuant to article 41 of the
Constitution; to prescribe the classes of information referred to in that article; the
procedure for obtaining access to that information, and for related matters.
DATE OF ASSENT: 7th July, 2005
Date of Commencement: See section 1(2) and (3)
BE IT ENACTED by Parliament as follows:
PART I – PRELIMINARY.
1. Short title and commencement.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Access to Information Act, 2005.
(2) This Act shall come into force on a day to be appointed by the Minister by statutory
instrument and different days may be appointed for the commencement of different
provisions.
(3) The Minister shall in any case ensure that the whole of the Act comes into force
within the current financial year.
2. Application.
(1) This Act applies to all information and records of Government ministries,
departments, local governments, statutory corporations and bodies, commissions and
other Government organs and agencies, unless specifically exempted by this Act.
(2) This Act does not apply to (a) Cabinet records and those of its committees;
(b) records of court proceedings before the conclusion of the case; or
(3) Nothing in this Act detracts from the provisions of any other written law giving a
right of access to the record of a public body.
3. Purpose of Act.
The purpose of this Act is –
(a) to promote an efficient, effective, transparent and accountable Government;
(b) to give effect to article 41 of the Constitution by providing the right of access to
information held by organs of the State, other than exempt records and information;
4