The Legislative Drafting Department is headed by the Parliamentary Counsel. The Department is responsible for the drafting of all legislative instruments on behalf of the Government. This includes taking part in consultative meetings for the development of Government legislative policies, facilitating the preparation of Cabinet papers, and the drafting of all Bills and subsidiary legislations. The Legislative Drafting Department in carrying out its functions, is responsible for advising all Government institutions on all matters that may lead to legislative proposals. The officers of the Department also attend sessions of the National Assembly, including its Standing Committees, to help clarify issues emanating from Bills presented to the Assembly. The Department also facilitates the work of the Cabinet sub-committee on legislation. The Department plays a fundamental role in facilitating the implementation of the legislative program of the Government. The Parliamentary Counsel is assisted by Principal Legislative Draftspersons, Senior Legislative Draftspersons, Legislative Draftspersons, Pupil State Counsel.

The Legislative Drafting Department specialises in preparing all government bills in accordance with current best practices in the field.

The ultimate goal of the Legislative Drafting Department is to translate policy into laws which are unambiguous.

Key responsibilities

• Receive drafting instructions and conduct legal research of legislative proposals.
• Analyse legislative proposals and advise on policy.
• Prepare, vet and amend bills.
• Prepare Cabinet memoranda for the approval of bills and for bills to be laid before the National Assembly.
• Attend meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on New Bills, to render legal assistance to the Sub-Committee when it is considering bills.
• Arrange for the announcement of bills in the gazette and the subsequent printing of these bills by the government for members of the national Assembly
• Attend sittings of the National Assembly when bills are being presented, to render legal assistance to the Assembly and incorporate amendments made in the bills during sittings
• Liaise with the government printers for the printing of assent copies of Acts for the President’s signature and subsequent publication in the gazette.
• Vet subsidiary legislation for execution by the relevant authority.
• Arrange for the publication of executed subsidiary legislation in the gazette.
• Prepare warrants of appointment of judges for the President’s signature
• Distribute gazette copies of laws to law officers.
• Advise ministries, departments and agencies in relation to the interpretation of statues, legislative drafting, the legislative process and legal matters generally.
• Maintain a legislation database to facilitate public access to up-to-date legislation.
• Represent the Ministry at conferences, seminars and workshops.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the authorities.