Article 120. Official languages of Parliament
Official Constitutional Text
120. (1) The official languages of Parliament shall be Kiswahili, English and Kenyan Sign language, and the business of Parliament may be conducted in English, Kiswahili and Kenyan Sign language.
(2) In case of a conflict between different language versions of an Act of Parliament, the version signed by the President shall prevail.
Plain English Explanation
This is a simplified summary to explain this article in clear language. It is not the legal text of the Constitution.
Article 120 of the Kenyan Constitution establishes the linguistic framework for legislative business and resolves potential legal ambiguities. It designates Kiswahili, English, and Kenyan Sign Language as the official languages of Parliament, allowing parliamentary business to be conducted in any of these languages. Additionally, the article provides a clear rule for statutory interpretation by dictating that if a conflict arises between different language translations or versions of an Act of Parliament, the specific version that was physically signed by the President takes legal precedence.