Interpretation of Laws Act

Tanzania
Interpretation of Laws Act

Chapter 1
Legislation as at 30 November 2019
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Contents
Part I – Preliminary provisions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1
1. Short title .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Application .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
3. Act to bind the Republic ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Part II – General provisions of interpretation .......................................................................................................................................... 2
4. Definitions applicable to written laws ............................................................................................................................................. 2
5. Application of definitions ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8
6. Laws always speaking ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8
7. Parts of speech and grammatical forms .......................................................................................................................................... 8
8. Gender and number ................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
9. Reference in written law to the Minister ........................................................................................................................................ 8
10. References by number to be inclusive .......................................................................................................................................... 8
11. Construction of internal references to section, etc. .................................................................................................................. 8
12. Reference to written law as amended ........................................................................................................................................... 9
13. Disjunctive construction of "or" ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Part III – Commencement and citation of laws ....................................................................................................................................... 9
14. Date of commencement of Act ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
15. Time of commencement of written laws ..................................................................................................................................... 9
16. Effective date of commencement provisions where notice of commencement required ............................................ 9
17. Construction of power to fix date of commencement .............................................................................................................. 9
18. Evidence of date of assent .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
19. Exercise of powers before commencement .............................................................................................................................. 10
20. Citation of written laws .................................................................................................................................................................... 11
21. References in written law to day of commencement ............................................................................................................ 11
Part IV – Provisions as to enactment and operation of written law .............................................................................................. 11
22. Acts to be public Acts ....................................................................................................................................................................... 11
23. Section to be substantive enactment .......................................................................................................................................... 11
24. Act may be altered or repealed in same session .................................................................................................................... 11
25. Preambles and Schedules ................................................................................................................................................................ 11
26. Headings, marginal notes, footnotes and rectification of errors ....................................................................................... 12
Part V – Amendment and repeal of written law ................................................................................................................................... 12
27. Construction of amending Act with amended Act .................................................................................................................. 12
28. Repeal of written law as amended .............................................................................................................................................. 12
29. Repeal of repeal .................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
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30. Repeal and substitution .................................................................................................................................................................... 12
31. Effect of substituting provisions ................................................................................................................................................... 12
32. General savings on repeal ............................................................................................................................................................... 13
33. Effect of repeal of Act on subsidiary legislation ..................................................................................................................... 13
34. Effect of expiry of written law ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
Part VI – Provisions relating to subsidiary legislation ........................................................................................................................ 13
35. President may make subsidiary legislation ............................................................................................................................... 13
36. General provisions regarding power to make subsidiary legislation ............................................................................... 14
37. Publication and commencement of subsidiary legislation ................................................................................................... 15
38. Laying regulations before National Assembly and disallowance ...................................................................................... 15
39. Construction of subsidiary legislation ......................................................................................................................................... 16
40. Citation of subsidiary legislation .................................................................................................................................................. 16
41. Reference to written law to include subsidiary legislation ................................................................................................. 16
42. Acts under subsidiary legislation deemed done under Act ................................................................................................. 16
43. Fees and charges ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Part VII – Statutory powers and duties .................................................................................................................................................... 17
44. Time for exercise of power or performance of duty .............................................................................................................. 17
45. Reference to holder of office includes successors .................................................................................................................. 17
46. Construction of enabling words .................................................................................................................................................... 17
47. Power to issue licence, etc, discretionary .................................................................................................................................. 18
48. Power to appoint includes power to suspend, dismiss, etc. ............................................................................................... 18
49. Appointment by name or officer, etc, and appointment of Chairman, etc, or Board, etc. ......................................... 18
50. Power of majority quorum etc. ...................................................................................................................................................... 19
51. Exercise of power may be corrected ........................................................................................................................................... 19
52. Effect of appointment when retiring officer on leave ........................................................................................................... 19
53. "May" imports discretion, "shall" is imperative ........................................................................................................................ 19
54. Powers of board, etc, not affected by vacancy or certain defects ..................................................................................... 20
55. Exercise of certain powers by delegate ..................................................................................................................................... 20
56. Reference to an area by designation ........................................................................................................................................... 20
57. Construction of power to delegate ............................................................................................................................................... 21
58. Who shall affix the common seal of a body corporate ......................................................................................................... 21
59. Rights of Government ....................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Part VIII – Provisions regarding time and distance ............................................................................................................................. 21
60. Computation of time .......................................................................................................................................................................... 21
61. Reckoning of months ......................................................................................................................................................................... 22
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62. Provisions where no time fixed ..................................................................................................................................................... 22
63. Construction of power to extend time ........................................................................................................................................ 22
64. Deviations from forms ....................................................................................................................................................................... 23
65. Measurement of distance ................................................................................................................................................................. 23
Part IX – Procedures and penalties ........................................................................................................................................................... 23
66. Ex officio proceeding not to abate on death ........................................................................................................................... 23
67. Rules of court ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
68. Imposition of penalty not bar to civil action ........................................................................................................................... 23
69. Recovery of fines and penalties ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
70. Double jeopardy .................................................................................................................................................................................. 23
71. Application of penal laws to bodies corporate ........................................................................................................................ 23
72. Provisions as to offences under two or more Acts ................................................................................................................. 24
73. Amendment of penalty ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24
74. Prescription of maximum, minimum daily and cumulative penalties ............................................................................. 24
75. Provision as to attempts .................................................................................................................................................................. 24
76. Disposal of forfeits ............................................................................................................................................................................. 25
77. Liability of employer or principal .................................................................................................................................................. 25
78. Evidence of fiat, sanction or consent of public officer .......................................................................................................... 25
79. Exercise of DDP’s functions in his absence ............................................................................................................................... 25
80. Statement of penalty at end of provision ................................................................................................................................. 25
81. Continuing offences ........................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Part X – Miscellaneous provisions ............................................................................................................................................................. 26
82. Service of documents by post ........................................................................................................................................................ 26
83. Service of documents generally .................................................................................................................................................... 27
84. Language of laws of Tanzania ....................................................................................................................................................... 27
85. Repeal ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Schedule (Section 4) ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
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Interpretation of Laws Act Tanzania
Tanzania

Chapter 1
Commenced on 1 September 2004
[This is the version of this document at 30 November 2019.]
[Note: This legislation has been thoroughly revised and consolidated under the supervision
of the Attorney General's Office, in compliance with the Laws Revision Act No. 7 of 1994, the
Revised Laws and Annual Revision Act (Chapter 356 (R.L.)), and the Interpretation of Laws
and General Clauses Act No. 30 of 1972. This version is up-to-date as at 31st July 2002.]
[G.N No 312 of 2004; Acts Nos. 4 of 1996; 17 of 1996; 7 of 2018; 13 of 2019]
An Act to consolidate the law relating to the construction, application, interpretation and operation of
written laws and to provide for related matters.
Part I – Preliminary provisions
1. Short title
(1) This Act may be cited as the Interpretation of Laws Act.
(2) [omitted]
(3) In this section "the Revised Edition 2002" means the Laws of Tanzania as revised and Published.
2. Application
(1) This Act shall apply to Mainland Tanzania as well as to Tanzania Zanzibar in relation to all laws
which apply throughout the United Republic.
(2) The provisions of this Act shall apply to, and in relation to, every written law, and every public
document whether the law or public document was enacted, passed, made or issued before or after
the commencement of this Act, unless in relation to a particular written law or document—
(a) express provision to the contrary is made in an Act;
(b) in the case of an Act, the intent and object of the Act or something in the subject or context
of the Act is inconsistent with such application; or
(c) in the case of subsidiary legislation, the intent and object of the Act under which that
subsidiary legislation is made is inconsistent with such application.
(3) The provisions of this Act shall apply to this Act as they apply to an Act passed after this Act
commences.
(4) In sections 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 33, 36(6), 43, 46, or 62 a reference to any Act, written law,
enactment or subsidiary legislation passed or made after the commencement of this Act shall be
construed so as not to include any enactment which continues or directly amends, but does not
repeal entirely, the text of an existing written law.
3. Act to bind the Republic

This Act binds the United Republic.
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Part II – General provisions of interpretation
4. Definitions applicable to written laws

In this Act and every other written law—
"abet" with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, has the same meaning as in the Penal
Code;
"act" when used with reference to an offence or civil wrong, includes an omission and extends to a series
of acts or omissions or a series of acts and omissions;
"Act" when used with reference to legislation means any Act, Decree or Ordinance passed by the
Parliament of the United Republic or, as the case may be, the House of Representatives of Zanzibar, or
by any Council previously having authority or power to pass laws in Tanzania or, as the case may be,
Zanzibar, such Act, Decree or Ordinance having been assented to by or on behalf of the President or other
proper legislative authority but does not include an Act of the Community;
"administrative officer" means an administrative officer of any grade;
"advocate" means a person entitled to practice as an advocate in the High Court or courts subordinate
under the provisions of the law for the time being applicable to advocates;
"affidavit" in the case of persons allowed by law to affirm or to declare instead of swearing, includes
affirmation and declaration;
"amend" means replace, substitute, in whole or in part, add to or vary, and the doing of any two or more of
such things simultaneously or by the same written law;
"applied law" means any Indian Act or an Act of the United Kingdom including an Order-in-Council which
for the time being extends and applies to Tanzania;
"by-law" means a by-law made under the Act in which the term is used;
"calendar month" means the period beginning on the first day of a month and expiring on the last day of
that month;
"calendar year" means the period commencing on 1st day of January in a year and expiring on the 31st
day of December in that year;
"chapter", "part", "section" and "Schedule" denote respectively a chapter, part, and section of and Schedule
to the Act in which the word occurs;
"Chief Secretary" means the person who is appointed Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President;
"civil magistrate" means a resident magistrate, and includes any other person appointed as a civil
magistrate under the Magistrates’ Courts Act;
"coin" means any coin of any metal, whether precious, semi-precious or non-precious, which is for the
time being legal currency in the United Republic;
"commencement" when used with reference to an enactment, means the time at which the enactment
comes or came into operation;
"common law" means the common law of England;
"the Commonwealth" means collectively the members of the Commonwealth and any dependency of a
member of the Commonwealth; and "member of the Commonwealth" or "Commonwealth country" means
the United Republic and any country specified in the Schedule to this Act;
"the Community" means the East African Community established by the Treaty;
"the Consolidated Fund" means the Consolidated Fund of the United Republic;

"the Constitution" means the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977, (entitled in
Kiswahili "Katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ya Mwaka, 1977") enacted by the Constituent
Assembly of the United Republic;
[Cap. 2]
"contravene" in relation to any requirement or condition prescribed in an written law or in any grant,
permit, lease, licence, or other authority under a written law, includes a failure to comply with that
requirement or condition;
"court" means any court in the United Republic, of competent jurisdiction;
"Court of Appeal" means the court to which appeals lie under Part II of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act;
[Cap. 141]
"Crown Agents" means the persons for the time being acting as Crown Agents for Overseas Governments
and Administrations or any of them;
"Customary Law" means any rule or body of rules whereby rights and duties are acquired or imposed,
established by usage in any African Community in Tanzania and accepted by such community in general
as having the force of law, including any declaration or modification of customary law made or deemed to
have been made under section 12 of the Judicature and Application of Laws Act, and references to "native
law" or to "native law and custom" shall be similarly construed;
[Cap. 358]
"definition" means the interpretation given by any written law to a word or expression;
"Deputy Minister" means a Deputy Minister appointed under Article 55 of the Constitution;
[Cap. 2]
"District" means any part of the United Republic proclaimed or deemed to be or to have been proclaimed
under Article 2(2) of the Constitution to be a district;
"document" includes any publication and any matter written, expressed, or described upon any substance
by means of letters, figures, or marks, or by more than one of those means, which is intended to be used or
may be used for the purpose of recording that matter;
"East African Authority" means the East African Authority established by the Treaty;
"enactment" means a written law or any portion of a written law;
"estate", in relation to land, includes any legal or equitable estate or interest, easement, right, title, claim,
demand, charge, lien, or encumbrance in, over, to, or in respect of the land;
"financial year" means the period of 12 months ending on 30th June;
"Foreign Service Officer" means an officer holding or acting in an appointment in the Foreign Service of
the United Republic;
"function" includes powers, duties, responsibilities, authorities, and jurisdictions;
"Gazette" or "Government Gazette" means the Gazette printed and published by the Government Printer
by order of the Government of the United Republic and includes supplements and any special or
Extraordinary Gazette so published;
"General Notice" means any announcement not of a legislative character made in the Gazette by or with
the authority of the President or a Minister;
"Government" means the Government of the United Republic;
"Government analyst" includes any assistant or other analyst employed by the Government;

"Government Notice" means any subsidiary legislation made by the President, a Minister or other public
officer or authority pursuant to a power conferred by any Act;
"Government Printer" means the Government Printer of the United Republic and any other printer
purporting to be the printer authorised to print Acts and other documents of the Government;
"the High Commission" means the High Commission established by the East African (High Commission)
Order-in-Council, 1947 to 1961 and reference in any written law to the High Commission shall be
construed
(a) for the period during which the East African Common Services Organisation Agreement
(Implementation) Ordinance was in force, as references to the Common Services Organisation;
(b) for the period after the repeal of that Ordinance, as references to the Community;
"the High Court" means the High Court of the United Republic or the High Court of Zanzibar;
"Imperial Act" means an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom;
"individual" means a material person;
"Judge" means a Judge of the High Court, and includes an acting Judge;
"Justice" means a Justice of the Peace;
"land" includes buildings and other structures, and covered with water, and any estate, interest, easement
servitude or right in or over land;
"Law Officer" means the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Director of Public
Prosecutions, the Administrator-General, the Solicitor-General, the Deputy Director of Public
Prosecutions, the Deputy Administrator General, the Deputy Solicitor-General, the Chief Parliamentary
Draftsman and every legally qualified State Attorney in the public service of the rank of or above Senior
State Attorney or Senior Parliamentary Draftsman;
"local government authority" means—
(a) a village council, a township, a kitongoji, a district council or any other local government authority
established under the Local Government (District Authorities) Act; or
[Cap. 287]
(b) an urban ward, a mtaa, a town council, a municipal council or city council established under the
Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act;
[Cap. 288]
"magistrate" means a resident magistrate, a district magistrate, a primary court magistrate and any other
description of magistrate provided for by or under the Magistrates’ Courts Act;
[Cap. 11]
"marriage" means a marriage contracted in accordance with, or recognized as valid by the Law of Marriage
Act, and the terms "husband", "wife" and "married person" shall be construed accordingly;
[Cap. 29]
"Minister" has the meaning given in section 9 of this Act and in addition, includes the Vice President, the
Prime Minister; and "the Minister" means the Minister responsible for the matter in question and includes
the Deputy Minister for the time being performing the functions of that Minister or, if there is no minister
responsible for the matter in question, means the President:
"minor" means a person who has not attained the apparent age of eighteen years and the terms "infant"
and "infant child" shall be construed accordingly;

"month" means a calendar month unless words be added showing a lunar month is intended; where a
month is expressed as beginning, or is required to be reckoned as beginning, on a date other than the
first day of any month, the month shall be deemed to expire immediately before the commencement of
the corresponding date in the next following month, whether the period so encompassed is of a longer or
shorter period than thirty days;
"native" means any member of an African race;
"oath" and "affidavit", in the case of persons required or allowed to affirm or declare instead of swearing,
include affirmation and declaration, and "swear", in the like case, includes "affirm" and "declare";
"Ordinance" includes any Ordinance or any laws, Proclamations or other Legislative Acts issued, made or
done before the date of the Tanganyika Order in Council, 1920, and validated by the said Order in Council,
and any subsidiary legislation made and in force under an Ordinance, and (save in the definitions "Act" and
"Parliament" in this section) includes an Act of Parliament and subsidiary legislation made under such Act;
"Parliament"—
(a) in an Ordinance, or a public document made or issued before the ninth day of December, 1961,
means the Parliament of the United Kingdom and "Imperial Parliament" has the same meaning;
(b) in an Act of the Parliament of Tanganyika or of the United Republic, or a public document made
or issued after the eighth day of December, 1961, or in an Act of the Constituent Assembly of
Tanganyika, means the Parliament of the United Republic and when used in the expression "Act of
Parliament" includes a reference to the Constituent Assembly of Tanganyika;
"perform" in relation to functions, includes the exercise of a power, responsibility, authority, or

jurisdiction;
"Permanent Secretary" means a person appointed by the President to be a Permanent Secretary, and
reference in any Act to Principal Secretary shall be construed as reference to Permanent Secretary;
"person" means any word or expression descriptive of a person and includes a public body, company, or
association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporated;
"police officer" means any member of the Police Force of and above the rank of constable as defined in the
Police Force and Auxiliary Services Act;
[Cap. 322]
"power" includes any privilege, authority, or discretion;
"prescribed" means—
(a) prescribed by or under the written law in which the word occurs; and
(b) in a case where reference is made to anything prescribed by a written law other than the law in
which the word occurs, includes anything prescribed by subsidiary legislation made under that
other written law;
"President" means the President of the United Republic, and includes any person performing the
functions of the President under article 137 of the Constitution;
[Cap. 2]
"proclamation" means proclamation made by the President and published in the Gazette;
"publication" means—
(a) all written and printed matter;
(b) any record, tape, wire, perforated roll, cinematograph film or image or other contrivance by
means of which any words or ideas may be mechanically, electronically, or electrically produced,
reproduced, represented, or conveyed;

(c) anything whether of a similar nature to that described in paragraph (b) of this definition or not,
containing any visible representation, or by its form, shape, or in any manner, capable of producing,
reproducing, representing, or conveying words or ideas; and
(d) every copy and reproduction of a publication as defined in paragraph (a), (b), or (c);
"public corporation" means a body corporate established by or under any written law, other than the
Companies Act, and includes a corporation sole so established;
[Cap. 212]
"public holiday" means a day which is declared to be or proclaimed as a public holiday under the Public
Holidays Act;
[Cap. 35]
"public officer" or "public department" extends to and includes every officer or department invested with
or performing duties of a public nature, whether under the immediate control of the President or not,
and includes an officer or department under the control of a local authority, the Community, or a public
corporation;
"public place" includes—
(a) any public street or way or pier, or any public garden;
(b) any building, place or conveyance to which, for the time being, the public are entitled or permitted
to have access, either unconditionally or upon condition or making payment; and
(c) any building, place or conveyance which is for the time being used for any public or religious
meeting or assembly or as an open court;
"public seal" means the public seal of the United Republic;
"Region" means any part of the United Republic proclaimed or deemed to be proclaimed by the President
under article 2(2) of the Constitution to be a region;
[Cap. 2]
"Regional Commissioner" means a person appointed by the President to be a regional commissioner, and
"the Regional Commissioner" means the regional commissioner of the region concerned;
"regulation" means a regulation made under the Act in which the term is used;
"repeal" includes rescind, revoke, cancel or delete;
"the Republic" means the Republic of Tanganyika and includes the United Republic;
"resident magistrate" means a resident magistrate of any grade appointed as such under the Magistrates’
Courts Act;
[Cap. 11]
"revenue officer" means an officer appointed by the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury to perform
duties in connection with the collection of revenue of the United Republic;
"rule" means a rule made under the Act in which the term is used;
"rules of court" when used in relation to any court, means rules made by the authority having for the time
being power to make rules or orders regulating the practice and procedure of such court;
"sell" includes barter, exchange, offer to sell and expose for sale;
"service" where an act authorises or requires any document to be served on any person, whether the
expression "serve", or the expression "give" or "send", or any other expression is used, then, unless a
contrary intention appeals, the service shall be effected by properly addressing and posting, after payment
of appropriate charges, a letter containing the document, and, unless the contrary is proved, service shall

be deemed to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course
of post;
"sign" with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, includes with reference to a person who is
unable to write his name, "mark", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions;
"sitting days" in relation to the National Assembly, means days on which the National Assembly actually
sits;
"statutory declaration", if made—
(a) in Tanzania, means a declaration made under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act;
[Cap. 34]
(b) in any other Commonwealth country, means a declaration on oath made before a justice of
peace, notary public, or other person having authority under any law in force to take or receive a
declaration;
(c) in any other country, means a declaration on oath made before a Foreign Service Officer having
authority under any written law to administer oaths or before any other person who may be
specified by the Minister responsible for legal affairs by an Order in the Gazette;
"subsidiary legislation" means any order, proclamation, rule, rule of court, regulation, notice, by-law or
instrument made under any Act or other lawful authority;
"summary conviction" means a conviction by a court of summary jurisdiction;
"swear" in the case of person allowed by law to affirm or declare instead of to swear, includes to affirm and
to declare;
"territorial waters" means any territorial or inland waters of the United Republic;
"the Territory" means Tanganyika;
"the Treaty" means the Treaty of East African Co-operation set out in the Schedule to the Treaty of
the East African Cooperation (Implementation) Act, 1967, which has been repealed by the East African
Community Mediation Agreement Act;
[Cap. 232]
"under" in relation to a written law or a provision of a written law, includes "by" "in accordance with",
"pursuant to" and "by virtue of";
"Union Day" means the 26th day of April, 1964;
"the United Kingdom" means Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
"the United Republic" means—
(a) for the period subsequent to 11th December, 1964, the United Republic of Tanzania;
(b) for the period commencing on Union Day and expiring on 11th December, 1964, the United Republic
of Tanganyika and Zanzibar;
"Vice-President" means a Vice-President of the United Republic;
"will" includes codicil;
"words" includes figures and symbols;
"writing", and any expression referring to writing include printing, lithography, typewriting, photography
and other modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form;
"written law" means all Acts for the time being in force and all subsidiary legislation for the time being in
force, and includes the Acts of the Community and all applied laws;

"year" means a period of twelve months.
[Act No. 7 of 2018 s. 19; Cap. 16]
5. Application of definitions
Definitions or rules of interpretation contained in a written law apply to the construction of the provisions
of the written law that contain those definitions or rules of interpretation as well as, to other provisions of
that written law.
6. Laws always speaking

A written law shall be considered as always speaking and when a matter or thing is expressed in the
present tense, it shall be applied to the circumstances as they arise, so that effect may be given to every
part of the law according to its true spirit, intent and meaning.
7. Parts of speech and grammatical forms

Where a word or phrase is defined in a written law, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that
word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
8. Gender and number

In any written law—
(a) words importing the masculine gender include the feminine;
(b) words importing the feminine gender include the masculine;
(c) words in the singular number include the plural and words in the plural number include the
singular.
9. Reference in written law to the Minister

A reference in a written law to the Minister shall be construed—
(a) in the case of a reference in an Act, as a reference to the Minister to whom the administration of
the Act, or the provisions of the Act, in which or in respect of which the term is used, is for the time
being committed by the President;
(b) in the case of a reference in subsidiary legislation, as a reference to the Minister to whom the
administration of the Act, or provision of the Act, under which the subsidiary legislation is made, is
for the time being committed by the President; and
(c) to include a Minister acting for or on behalf of the Minister referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), as the
case may require.
10. References by number to be inclusive

A reference in a written law by number, letter or by number and letter to two or more portions of a written
law shall be construed as including the portion described by the reference first mentioned and the portion
described by the reference last mentioned.
11. Construction of internal references to section, etc.

(1) Where in an Act reference is made to a Chapter, Part, section, Schedule, appendix or form without
anything in the context to indicate that a reference to Chapter, Part, section, Schedule, appendix,
or form of or to some other Act is intended, the reference shall be construed as a reference to a Part,
Chapter, section, Schedule, appendix, or form of or to the Act in which the reference is made.

(2) Where in a provision of an Act reference is made to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or other
division without anything in the context to indicate that a reference to a subsection, paragraph,
subparagraph or other division of some other provision is intended, the reference shall be construed
as a reference to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, or other division of the provision in which
the reference is made.
(3) Where in a Schedule to an Act reference is made to a clause, sub-clause, paragraph or other
divisions without anything in the context to indicate that a reference to a clause, sub-clause,
paragraph or other division of some other provision is intended, the reference shall be construed as
a reference to a clause, subclause, paragraph or other division of the Schedule or provision of the
Schedule in which the reference is made.
(4) The provisions of subsections (1), (2), and (3) shall apply, subject to the necessary modifications, to
the construction of subsidiary legislation.
12. Reference to written law as amended

(1) A reference in a written law to a written law shall be deemed to include a reference to such written
law as it may be amended.
(2) A reference in a written law to a provision of a written law shall be construed as a reference to such
provision as it may be amended.
(3) A reference in a written law to an Imperial Act, or to a provision of an Imperial Act, shall be
construed so as to include a reference to such Act or provision as it may be amended.
13. Disjunctive construction of "or"

In relation to a written law passed or made after the commencement of this Act, but subject to section
2(4), "or", "other" and "otherwise" shall be construed disjunctively and not as implying similarity unless the
word "similar" or some other word of like meaning is added.
Part III – Commencement and citation of laws
14. Date of commencement of Act

Every Act shall come into operation on the date of its publication in the Gazette or, if it is provided either
in that Act or in any other written law, that it shall come into operation on some other date, on that date.
15. Time of commencement of written laws

Where any written law, or portion of a written law, comes into operation on a particular day, it shall come
into operation at the beginning of that day.
16. Effective date of commencement provisions where notice of commencement required

Notwithstanding section 14, where an Act provides that the Act, or portion of the Act, is to come into
operation on a day to be fixed by notice, that provision and the provision providing for the short title of
the Act, unless it is otherwise expressly provided, shall come into operation on the day on which the Act
receives the Presidential Assent.
17. Construction of power to fix date of commencement

A power to fix a day on which an Act shall come into operation does not include power to fix—
(a) a day prior to the day on which the proclamation fixing the day is published in the Gazette; or
(b) different days for different provisions of that Act, unless express provision is made in that behalf.

18. Evidence of date of assent

Where a date appearing on a copy of an Act printed, or purporting to be printed, by the Government
Printer, purports to be the date on which the President assented to such Act or to a portion of it. that date
as so appearing shall be evidence that such date was the date on which the President so assented, and
shall be judicially noticed accordingly.
19. Exercise of powers before commencement

(1) Where a provision of an Act does not commence on the passing of the Act and that provision would,
if it had commenced, confer power to—
(a) make an instrument of a legislative or administrative character;
(b) give or serve a notice or other document;
(c) appoint a person to a specified office;
(d) establish a specified body of persons, whether incorporated or not; or
(e) do any other thing for the purposes of the Act,
then the power may, notwithstanding that provision has not commenced, but subject to subsections
(3) and (4), be exercised at any time after the passing of the Act to the extent that it is necessary or
expedient for the purpose of bringing the Act, or provisions of the Act, into operation, or giving full
effect to the Act, or provisions of the Act, when or after that provision commences.
(2) Where—
(a) a provision of an Act does not commence on the passing of the Act and the provision would,
if it had commenced, amend another Act; and
(b) a provision of that other Act would, if the first-mentioned provision had commenced, confer
power to:
(i) make an instrument of a legislative or administrative character;
(ii) give or serve a notice or other document;
(iii) appoint a person to a specified office;
(iv) establish a specified body of persons whether incorporate or not; or
(v) do any other thing for the purposes of that other Act,
then the power may, notwithstanding that the first-mentioned provisions has not commenced, but
subject to subsections (3) and (4), be exercised at any time after the passing of the Act in which
the first-mentioned provision is contained to the extent that it is necessary or expedient for the
purpose of giving full effect to that other Act, or provisions of that other Act, when or after the first-
mentioned provision commences.
(3) Where a power to make an instrument of a legislative or administrative character, or to give or serve
a notice or other document, is exercised as provided in subsection (1) or in subsection (2), that
instrument, notice, or document shall take effect—
(a) on the day on which the provision referred to in subsection (1) or, as the case may be, the
provision first mentioned in subsection (2) commences; or
(b) on the day on which it would have taken effect, if at the time when the instrument was
made or the notice or document was given or served, the provision so mentioned or first
mentioned had commenced,
whichever is the later.

(4) Where a power to appoint a person to a specified office, or to establish a specified body of persons,
is exercised as provided in subsection (1) or subsection (2), the person so appointed may act in
that office, or, as the case may be, the body so established may meet and perform and exercise its
functions, duties, and powers, but only for purposes referred to in subsection (1) or (2) (whichever
of those subsection is applicable); and for the purposes of any provision as to the duration of the
term is deemed not to begin until the relevant provision referred to in subsection (1) or (2), as the
case may be, commences.
(5) Subject to subsection (4) of section 2, this section applies to Acts passed after the commencement
of this Act.
20. Citation of written laws

(1) Where a written law is referred to, it shall be sufficient for all purposes to cite or refer to that
written law by—
(a) the short title or the citation (if any) by which it was made citable;
(b) in the case of an Act, the year in which it was passed and its number among the Acts of that
year; or
(c) in the case of an Act, the Chapter number given to the Act in any revised edition of the laws.
(2) A provision of a written law may be cited by reference to the Part, section, regulation, rule, clause
or other division of the written law in which the provision is contained.
(3) The citation of or reference to any written law shall in all cases be made according to the copy of
such written law printed, or purporting to be printed, by the Government Printer.
21. References in written law to day of commencement

A reference in a written law to the day of coming into operation or to the commencement of a written
law shall, where different provisions of the written law come or came into operation on different days, be
construed as a reference to the day of coming into operation of the appropriate provisions of that written
law.
Part IV – Provisions as to enactment and operation of written law
22. Acts to be public Acts

Every Act shall be deemed to be a public Act unless the contrary is expressly provided in the Act and shall
be judicially noticed as such.
23. Section to be substantive enactment

Every section of an Act shall take effect as a substantive enactment without introductory words.
24. Act may be altered or repealed in same session

An Act may be amended or repealed in the same session of Parliament as that in which it was passed.
25. Preambles and Schedules

(1) The preamble to a written law forms part of the written law and shall be construed as a part thereof
intended to assist in explaining its purport and object.
(2) An Appendix or Schedule to or a table in a written law, together with any notes thereto, forms part
of the written law.

26. Headings, marginal notes, footnotes and rectification of errors

(1) The headings of the Parts, divisions and subdivisions into which a written law is divided form part
of the written law.
(2) A marginal note or footnote to a written law and, notwithstanding subsection (1), a heading to
a section, regulation, rule, by-law, or clause of a written law shall be taken not to be part of the
written law.
(3) Where there is any clerical or printing error in any Bill or Act published in the Gazette, the Chief
Parliamentary Draftsman or any member of the Attorney-General’s Chambers authorised in writing
in that behalf by the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman, may, by order published in the Gazette, give
directions as to the rectification of such error and every such direction shall be read as one with
the Bill or Act to which it relates and such Bill or Act shall, with effect from the date of its first
publication, take effect as so rectified.
[Act No. 17 of 1996 Sch.]
Part V – Amendment and repeal of written law
27. Construction of amending Act with amended Act

Where one Act amends another Act, the amending Act shall, so far as it is consistent with the tenor
thereof, and unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as one with the amended Act.
28. Repeal of written law as amended

Where a written law which has been amended by any other written law is repealed, such repeal shall
include the repeal of all those provisions of such other written law by which the firstmentioned written
law was amended.
29. Repeal of repeal

Where a written law repeals a repealing enactment, the repeal does not revive any enactment previously
repealed unless words are added reviving it.
30. Repeal and substitution

Where a written law repeals an enactment and substitutes provisions for the repealed enactment the
repealed enactment remains in operation until the substituted provisions come into operation.
31. Effect of substituting provisions

Where a written law repeals and re-enacts, with or without modification, any enactment—
(a) all districts or other local divisions or areas;
(b) all councils. corporations, boards, tribunals, commissions, trusts, or other bodies constituted, and
all elections and appointments of members made;
(c) all offices constituted and appointments of officers made;
(d) all subsidiary legislation, warrants, certificates, and documents made; and
(e) all other acts, matters, and things,
which, at the commencement of the repealing law, are respectively in existence, or in force or operation,
under or for the purposes of such provision, shall, in so far as is consistent with the repealing law, subsist
and ensure for the purposes of such law and shall continue as if the repealing law had been in operation

when they respectively originated or were constituted, made or done and they had originated or been
constituted, made or done under that law.
32. General savings on repeal

(1) Where a written law repeals an enactment, the repeal does not, unless the contrary intention
appears—
(a) revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes effect;
(b) affect the previous operation of the enactment repealed or anything duly done or suffered
under that enactment;
(c) affect any right, interest, title, power or privilege created, acquired, accrued, established or
exercisable or any status or capacity existing prior to the repeal;
(d) affect any duty, obligation, liability, or burden of proof imposed, created, or incurred prior to
the repeal;
(e) affect any penalty or forfeiture incurred or liable to be incurred in respect of an offence
committed against that enactment;
(f) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, interest,
title, power, privilege, status, capacity, duty, obligation, liability, burden of proof, penalty or
forfeiture,
and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued, or enforced,
and any such penalty or forfeiture may be imposed and enforced as if the repealing written law had
not been passed or made.
(2) The inclusion in the repealing provisions of an enactment of any express saving with respect to
the repeals effected shall not be taken to prejudice the operation of this section with respect to the
effect of those and substitution repeals.
33. Effect of repeal of Act on subsidiary legislation

(1) Where an Act—
(a) repeals an Act and substitutes other provisions; or
(b) repeals and re-enacts an Act, with or without modification.
any subsidiary legislation made under the repealed Act and in operation immediately before the
commencement of the repealing Act shall, so far as it is consistent with the repealing Act, continue
in operation and have effect for all purposes as if made under the repealing Act.
(2) Subsidiary legislation which continues in operation under subsection (1), may be amended or
repealed as if it has been made under the repealing Act.
34. Effect of expiry of written law

Upon the expiry or lapse of any enactment, the provisions of section 33 shall apply as if that enactment
had been repealed.
Part VI – Provisions relating to subsidiary legislation
35. President may make subsidiary legislation

Where a written law provides that subsidiary legislation may or shall be made and does not provide by
whom, such subsidiary legislation made under such a provision shall be made by the President.

36. General provisions regarding power to make subsidiary legislation

(1) Subsidiary legislation shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the written law under
which it is made, or of any Act, and subsidiary legislation shall be void to the extent of any such
inconsistency.
(2) Where any subsidiary legislation purports to be made in exercise of a particular power or powers, it
shall be deemed also to be made in exercise of all powers under which it may be made.
(3) It shall be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that all conditions and preliminary
steps precedent to the making of subsidiary legislation have been complied with and performed.
(4) Where a written law confers a power to make subsidiary legislation, it shall be deemed also to
include a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to amend
or repeal any such subsidiary legislation; and if the person on whom such power is conferred has
been replaced wholly or in part by another person, the power conferred by this subsection upon the
original person may be exercised by the replacing person concerning all matters or things within his
jurisdiction as if he were the original person.
(5) Where a written law confers power on a person to make subsidiary legislation for any general
purpose and also for any special purposes incidental thereto, the enumeration of the special
purposes shall not derogate from the generality of the powers conferred with reference to the
general purpose.
(6) Subject to subsection (4) of section 2, subsidiary legislation may provide that contravention of a
provision constitutes an offence and may provide for a penalty in respect of such a contravention
not exceeding a fine of six hundred thousand shillings.
(7) A power to make subsidiary legislation may be exercised—
(a) either in relation to all cases to which the power extends, or in relation to all those cases
subject to specified exceptions, or in relation to any specified case or category of cases; and
(b) so as to make, as respects the cases in relation to which it is exercised—
(i) the same provision for all cases in relation to which the power is exercised, or
different provision for different cases or class or cases, or different provisions for the
same case or category of cases for different purposes of the legislation; or
(ii) any such provision either unconditionally or subject to any specified condition.
(8) Subsidiary legislation may be made—
(a) so as to apply:
(i) at all times or at a specified time;
(ii) throughout or in a specified part of;
(b) so as to require a matter affected by the legislation to be—
(i) in accordance with a specified standard or specified requirement;
(ii) approved by or to the satisfaction of a specified person or body or a specified class of

persons or body;
(c) so as to confer a discretionary authority on a specified person or body or a specified class of

person or body; and
(d) so as to provide, in a specified case or class of cases for the exemption of persons or things
or a class of persons or things from the provisions of the subsidiary legislation, whether
unconditionally or on specified conditions and either wholly or to such an extent as is
specified.

(9) In subsections (7) and (8) "specified" means specified in the subsidiary legislation.
37. Publication and commencement of subsidiary legislation

(1) Where a written law confers power to make subsidiary legislation, all subsidiary legislation made
under that power shall, unless the contrary intention appears—
(a) be published in the Gazette;
(b) subject to subsection (2) and to section 39, come into operation on the day of publication, or
where another day is specified or provided for in the subsidiary legislation, on that day.
(2) Subsidiary legislation shall not be expressed to come into operation on a day before the day of
publication in any case where, if the subsidiary legislation so came into operation—
(a) the rights of a person (other than the Government or an institution of the Government)
existing immediately before the day of publication would be affected in a manner prejudicial
to that person;
(b) liabilities would be imposed on any person (other than the Government or an institution
of the Government) in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the day of
publication,
and if any provision is made in contravention of this subsection, that provision shall be void.
(3) A power to fix a day on which subsidiary legislation shall come into operation does not include
power to fix different days for different provisions of that legislation unless express provision is
made in that behalf.
38. Laying regulations before National Assembly and disallowance

(1) All regulations shall be laid before the National Assembly within six sitting days of the National
Assembly next following publication of the regulations in the Gazette.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision in any Act to the contrary, if the National Assembly passes a
resolution disallowing any regulations of which resolution notice has been given within fourteen
sitting days of the National Assembly after such regulations have been laid before it or if any
regulations are not laid before the National Assembly in accordance with subsection (1), such
regulations shall cease to have effect, but without affecting the validity or curing the invalidity of
anything done or of the omission of anything in the meantime.
(3) Subsection (2) applies notwithstanding that the period of fourteen days referred to in that
subsection, or part of that period, does not occur in or during the same session of the National
Assembly, that in which the regulation is laid before the National Assembly concerned.
(4) Notwithstanding any provision in any Act to the contrary, if the National Assembly at any time
passes a resolution amending any such regulation or substituting another regulation or part of a
regulation for that which has been disallowed by the National Assembly under subsection(2), then
on the passing of any such resolution—
(a) amending a regulation or part of a regulation the regulation or part of a regulation so

amended shall, after the expiration of seven days from the publication in the Gazette of the
notice provided for in subsection (5), take effect as so amended;
(b) substituting a regulation or part of a regulation in place of a regulation so substituted shall,

after the expiration of seven days from the publication in the Gazette of the notice provided
for in subsection (5), take effect in place of that for which it is so substituted.
(5) When a resolution has been passed under subsection (2) or (4), notice of such resolution shall be
published in the Gazette within twenty one days of the passing of the resolution.

(6) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of section 34, where—
(a) regulations are disallowed under this section; and
(b) those regulations amended or repealed regulations that were in operation immediately
before the first-mentioned regulations commenced,
the disallowance revives the previous regulations on and after the day of the disallowance.
(7) Where a written law which empowers or directs the making of regulations by a person other than
the President and requires that the regulations be confirmed or approved by the President or by
any other person or institution before having the force of law, subsection (1) does not apply to such
regulations unless they are confirmed or approved as so required.
(8) In this section "regulations" include rules and by-laws.
39. Construction of subsidiary legislation

(1) Words and expressions used in subsidiary legislation shall have the same respective meaning as in
the written law under which the subsidiary legislation is made.
(2) A reference in subsidiary legislation to "the Act" shall be constructed as a reference to the Act under
which the subsidiary legislation is made.
40. Citation of subsidiary legislation

Subsidiary legislation may be cited by reference to the short title if any, or by reference to the number of
the notices under which it appeared in the Gazette.
41. Reference to written law to include subsidiary legislation

(1) A reference in a written law to a written law shall be construed to include a reference to any
subsidiary legislation made under that written law.
(2) A reference in a written law to an applied Act shall be construed to include a reference to any
subsidiary legislation made under that Act.
42. Acts under subsidiary legislation deemed done under Act

Any act done under subsidiary legislation shall be deemed to be done under the written law under which
the subsidiary legislation was made.
43. Fees and charges

(1) Subsidiary legislation may provide for the imposition of fees and charges in respect of any matter
with regard to which provision is made in such subsidiary legislation or in the written law under
which such subsidiary legislation is made.
(2) Where a provision is made by subsidiary legislation in respect of fees or charges, the subsidiary
legislation may provide for all or any of the following matters—
(a) specific fees or charges;
(b) maximum or minimum fees or charges;
(c) maximum and minimum fees or charges;
(d) ad valorem fees or charges;
(e) the payment of fees and charges either generally or under specified conditions or in specified
circumstances; and

(f) the reduction, waiver or refund, in whole or in part, of such fees or charges.
(3) Where any reduction, waiver or refund, in whole or in part, of any fee or charge is provided for by
subsidiary legislation, such reduction, waiver or refund may be expressed to apply or be applicable
either generally or specifically —
(a) in respect of certain matters or transactions or classes of matter or transaction;
(b) in respect of certain documents or classes of document;
(c) when any event happens or ceases to happen;
(d) in respect of certain persons or classes of person; or
(e) in respect of any combination of such matters, transactions, documents, events, or persons,
and may be expressed to apply or to be applicable subject to such conditions as may be
specified in the subsidiary legislation or in the discretion of any person specified in the
subsidiary legislation.
(4) Subject to subsection (4) of section 2, this section applies to subsidiary legislation made under a
power conferred by an enactment passed after the commencement of this Act.
Part VII – Statutory powers and duties
44. Time for exercise of power or performance of duty

Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty, the power may be exercised and the duty shall be
performed from time to time as occasion requires.
45. Reference to holder of office includes successors

Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty on the holder of a public office as such, the power
may be exercised and the duty shall be performed by the person for the time being lawfully holding, acting
in, or performing the functions of the office.
46. Construction of enabling words

(1) Where a written law confers upon a person power to do or enforce the doing of any act or thing,
all such power shall also be deemed to be conferred on the persons as are reasonably necessary to
enable him to do or to enforce the doing of the act or thing.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), where a written law confers power—
(a) to provide for, prohibit, control or regulate any matter, such power includes power to provide
for the same by the licensing or registration thereof or the granting of permits and power to
prohibit acts whereby the prohibition, control, or regulation of such matter might be evaded;
(b) to grant a licence, registration, lease, right, permit, authority, approval, or exemption,
such power includes power to impose reasonable conditions subject to which such licence,
registration, lease, right, permit, authority, approval or exemption may be granted;
(c) to approve any person, matter, or thing, such power includes power to withdraw that
approval;
(d) to give directions, such power includes power to express the same in the form of
prohibitions.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) of section 2, this section applies to written laws passed or made after the
commencement of this Act.

47. Power to issue licence, etc, discretionary

(1) Where a written law confers power upon a person to issue, grant, give or renew any licence,
registration, lease, right, authority, approval, permit, or exemption, the person so empowered shall
have a discretion either to issue, grant, give or renew or to refuse to issue, grant, give or renew such
licence, registration, lease, right, authority, approval, permit, or exemption.
(2) Nothing in this section shall affect any right which may be conferred by any written law upon a
person to appeal against a refusal to issue, grant, give or renew any licence, registration, lease,
right, authority, approval, permit, or exemption.
48. Power to appoint includes power to suspend, dismiss, etc.

(1) Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty upon a person to make an appointment to
an office or position, including an acting appointment, the person having such power or duty shall
also have the power—
(a) to remove or suspend a person so appointed to an office or position, and to re-appoint or

reinstate, any person appointed in exercise of such power or duty;
(b) where a person so appointed to an office or position is suspended or unable, or expected to

become unable, for any other cause to perform the functions of such office or position, to
appoint a person to act temporarily in place of the person so appointed during the period of
suspension or inability, but a person shall not be appointed to act temporarily unless he is
eligible and qualified to be appointed to the office or position; and
(c) to specify the period for which any person appointed in exercise of such a power or duty shall
hold his appointment.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (1), "cause" includes—
(a) illness;
(b) temporary absence from the United Republic; and
(c) conflict of interest.
(3) The validity of anything done by a person purporting to act under an appointment made under
paragraph (c) of subsection (1) shall not be called in question on the ground that the occasion for
his appointment had not arisen or had ceased.
(4) Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty upon a person to make an appointment
to an office or position and that power or duty is exercisable only upon the nomination or
recommendation, or is subject to the approval, concurrence, or consent of some other person, then
the powers conferred by paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) shall only be exercisable upon such
nomination or recommendation or subject to such approval concurrence, or consent.
(5) Nothing in this section affects the tenure of office or position of any person under the express
provisions of any written law.
49. Appointment by name or officer, etc, and appointment of Chairman, etc, or Board, etc.
(1) Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty upon a person to appoint or designate a
person to—
(a) perform any function;
(b) be a member of any board, tribunal, commission, committee, council, or other similar body,
whether corporate or unincorporated; or

(c) be or do any other thing,
that person may make the appointment or designation either by appointing or designating a
person by name or by appointing or designating the holder of an office by the term designating
his office; and any such appointment or designation of the holder of an office shall be construed
as the appointment or designation of the person from time to time holding, acting in, or lawfully
performing the functions of the office.
(2) Where by or under any Act power is conferred on any person or authority to appoint any board,
commission, committee or similar body, such person or as the case may be authority, may,
unless the contrary intention appears, appoint or provide, by regulations, for the appointment of
Chairman or deputy chairman and a secretary of the board, commission, committee or similar body.
50. Power of majority quorum etc.

(1) Where a written law confers or imposes a function upon a body or number of persons consisting of
not less than three persons, the function may be performed by a majority of those persons.
(2) Where a written law establishes a board, commission, committee, council or other similar body
consisting of 3 or more members (in this section called an "association"—
(a) at a meeting of the association, a number of members of the association equal to:
(i) at least one-half of the number of members provided for by the written law, if that
number is a fixed number; and
(ii) if the number of members provided for by the written law is not a fixed number but
is within a range having a maximum or minimum, at least one-half of the number of
members in office if that number is within the range, constitutes a quorum; and
(b) an act or thing done by a majority of the members of the association present at a meeting,
if the members present constitute a quorum, shall be deemed to have been done by the
association.
51. Exercise of power may be corrected

Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty upon a person to do any act or thing of an
administrative or executive character or to make any appointment, the power or duty may be exercised
or performed as often as is necessary to correct any error or omission in any previous purported exercise
or performance of the power or duty, notwithstanding that the power or duty is not in general capable of
being exercised or performed from time to time.
52. Effect of appointment when retiring officer on leave

When a substantive holder of any office created under any Act is on leave of absence pending
relinquishment of his office, it shall be lawful for another person to be appointed substantively to the
same office.
53. "May" imports discretion, "shall" is imperative

(1) Where in a written law the word "may" is used in conferring a power, such word shall be interpreted
to imply that the power so conferred may be exercised or not, at discretion.
(2) Where in a written law the word "shall" is used in conferring a function, such word shall be
interpreted to mean that the function so conferred must be performed.

54. Powers of board, etc, not affected by vacancy or certain defects

(1) Where a board, tribunal, commission, committee, council or other similar body, whether corporate
or unincorporated, is established under a written law, the powers of such a body shall not be
affected by—
(a) any vacancy in the membership of the body;
(b) any defect afterwards discovered in the appointment or qualification of a person purporting
to be a member of the body or the deputy member;
(c) a minor irregularity in the convening or conduct of a meeting of the body; or
(d) the presence or participation at a meeting of a person not entitled to be present or

participate.
(2) Where—
(a) a written law establishes a board and the board is not duly constituted;
(b) a board under any written law has been dissolved; or
(c) the tenure of board prescribed in any written law has come to an end,
it shall be lawful for any operation requiring the decisions of the board to be performed by
the permanent secretary of the ministry responsible for the board until such time a board is
constituted:
Provided that, the permanent secretary shall perform such functions for a period not exceeding
twelve months.
(3) Action or other legal proceeding shall not be instituted against the permanent secretary of the
Ministry in respect of any action or omission by him done in good faith when. Exercising his
functions under this Act
(4) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister responsible shall, as soon as the board falls vacant and
before the new board is appointed, inform in writing the permanent secretary to perform the
functions of the board under this section.
[Act No. 13 of 2019 s. 39]
55. Exercise of certain powers by delegate

Where under a written law the performance of a function by a person is dependent upon the opinion,
belief, or state of mind of that person in relation to a matter and that function has been delegated under
a written law, the function may be performed by the delegate upon the opinion, belief, or state of mind of
the delegate in relation to that matter.
56. Reference to an area by designation

(1) Where an Act applies or refers to any area of United Republic by a particular designation it shall
apply or refer, as the case may be, to the area so designated as from time to time defined, delimited
or described unless otherwise provided.
(2) Where the designation by reference of any such area is changed, all reference in any written law to
such area by its previous designation shall be construed as reference to the area so re-designated.

57. Construction of power to delegate

(1) Where a written law confers power upon a person to delegate the exercise of any power or the
performance of any duty conferred or imposed upon him under a written law—
(a) such a delegation shall not preclude a person so delegating from exercising or performing at
any time a power or duty so delegated;
(b) such a delegation may be made subject to such conditions, qualifications, limitations or
exceptions as the person so delegating may specify;
(c) if the delegation may be made only with the approval of some person, such delegation, and
any amendment of the delegation, may be made subject to such conditions, qualifications,
limitations or exceptions as the person whose approval is required may specify;
(d) such a delegation may be made to a specified person or to persons of a specified class, or may
be made to the holder or holders for the time being of a specified office or class of offices;
(e) such a delegation may be amended or revoked by instrument in writing signed by the person
so delegating;
(f) in the case of a power conferred upon a person by reference to the term designating an office,
such a delegation shall not cease to have effect by reason only of a change in the person
lawfully holding, acting in or performing the functions of that office.
(2) The delegation of a power shall be deemed to include the delegation of any incidental or connected
duty and the delegation of a duty shall be deemed to include the delegation of any incidental or
connected power.
(3) Where under a written law an act or thing may, or is required to be done to, by reference to or in
relation to, a person and that person has been under a written law delegated a relevant function
conferred or imposed on him with respect to or in consequence of the doing of that act or thing,
the act or thing shall be regarded as effectually done if done to. by reference to or in relation to the
person to whom the said function has been delegated.
58. Who shall affix the common seal of a body corporate

Where in a written law a board or committee is authorised or required to do any act, matter, or thing, it
shall be taken to mean that such act, matter, or thing may or shall be done by the board or committee as
the case may be.
59. Rights of Government

No Act shall in any manner bind or otherwise affect the right of the United Republic unless it is expressly
provided, or unless it appears by necessary implication that the United Republic is bound.
Part VIII – Provisions regarding time and distance
60. Computation of time

(1) In computing time for the purposes of a written law—
(a) where a period of time is expressed to be at, on, or with a specified day, that day shall be
included in the period;
(b) where a period of time is expressed to be reckoned from, or after, a specified day, that day
shall not be included in the period;

(c) where anything is to be done within a time before a specified day, the time shall not include
that day;
(d) where a period of time is expressed to end at, on, or with a specified day or to continue to or
until a specified day, that day shall be included in the period;
(e) where the time limited for the doing of a thing expires or falls upon an excluded day, the
thing may be done on the next day that is not an excluded day;
(f) where there is a reference to a number of clear days or "at least" or "not less than" a number
of days between two events, in calculating the number of days there shall be excluded the
days on which the events happen;
(g) where there is a reference to a number of days not expressed to be clear days or "at least" or
"not less than" a number of days between two events, in calculating the number of days there
shall be excluded the day on which the first event happens and there shall be included the
day on which the second event happens;
(h) where an act or proceeding is directed or allowed to be done or taken on a certain day, or on
or before a certain day, then, if that day is an excluded day, the act or proceeding shall be
considered as done or taken in due time if it is done or taken on the next day that is not an
excluded day.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "excluded day" means Saturday, Sunday or public holiday
throughout or in that part of which is relevant to the event, act, thing or proceeding concerned.
61. Reckoning of months

(1) In a written law, "month" means a calendar month, that is to say, a month reckoned according to
the calendar.
(2) Where a period of one month indicated in a written law begins on any date other than the first day
of any of the 12 months of the calendar, it shall be reckoned from the date on which it is to begin
to the date in the next month numerically corresponding, less one, or, if there is no corresponding
date, to the last day of that month.
For example: a month beginning on 15 January, ends on 14 February and a month beginning on 30,
31 January ends on 28 February (or 29 February in a leap year).
(3) Where a period indicated in a written law is of 2, 3 or more months, it shall be reckoned from the
date on which it is to begin to the numerically corresponding, less one, in the second, third or other
successive month thereafter or, if there is no such corresponding date, to the last day of the latter
month.
For example: a period of 6 months beginning on 15 August ends on 14 February and a period of 6
months beginning on 30 or 31 August ends on 28 February (or 29 February in a leap year).
62. Provisions where no time fixed

Where no time is fixed or allowed within which an act or thing shall be done, such act or thing shall be
done with all convenient speed and as often as due occasion arises.
63. Construction of power to extend time

(1) Where in a written law a time is fixed or allowed for doing any act or thing or taking any proceeding
and power is given to a court or other authority to extend that time, such power may be exercised
by the court or other authority although the application for an extension is not made until after the
expiration of the time fixed or allowed.
(2) Subject to subsection (1) this section applies to written laws passed or made after the
commencement of this Act.

64. Deviations from forms

Except as is otherwise provided, wherever forms are prescribed, deviations therefrom not affecting the
substance and not calculated to mislead, shall not vitiate them.
65. Measurement of distance

In the measurement of any distance for the purposes of a written law, the distance shall be measured in a
straight line on a horizontal plane.
Part IX – Procedures and penalties
66. Ex officio proceeding not to abate on death

Any civil or criminal proceedings taken by or against any person by virtue of his office shall not be
discontinued or abate by his death, resignation or absence or removal from office, but may be carried on by
or against, as the case may be, the person for the time being holding that office.
67. Rules of court

(1) In a written law, "rules of court" in relation to any court, means rules made by the authority having
for the time being power to make rules or orders regulating the practice and procedure of such
court.
(2) The power of an authority referred to in subsection (1) includes a power to make rules of court for
the purpose of any written law which directs or authorises anything to be done by or in accordance
with rules of court.
68. Imposition of penalty not bar to civil action

The imposition of a penalty or fine by or under the authority of any Act shall not, in the absence of express
provisions to the contrary, relieve any person from liability to answer for damages to any person injured.
69. Recovery of fines and penalties

Where a fine or other penalty is recoverable under a written law and no means is provided in that law for
the recovery of the fine or penalty shall be deemed to provide that such fine or penalty may be recovered
summarily under the provision of the Criminal Procedure Act, or any written law for the time being in
force relating to summary proceedings.
[Cap. 20]
70. Double jeopardy

Where an act constitutes two or more offences, whether under the same written law or otherwise,
the offender is liable to be prosecuted and punished for any or all such offences but is not liable to be
punished twice for the same offence.
71. Application of penal laws to bodies corporate

(1) Every enactment relating to an offence punishable on conviction or on summary conviction shall be
taken to refer to bodies corporate as well as to individuals.
(2) Where under a written law, a forfeiture or penalty is pay able to a party aggrieved, it shall be
payable to a body corporate in every case where that body is the party aggrieved.

(3) Except where otherwise expressly provided, where the penalty prescribed in a written law in respect
of an offence does not consist of or include a fine, the court before which the offence is tried may, in
the case of a body corporate, impose a fine—
(a) where a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months is prescribed, a fine of two million
shillings;
(b) where a term of imprisonment exceeding six months but not exceeding one year is
prescribed, a fine of three million shillings;
(c) where a term of imprisonment exceeding one year but not exceeding two years is prescribed,
a fine of five million shillings;
(d) where a term of imprisonment exceeding three years is prescribed, a fine of ten million
shillings.
(e)
72. Provisions as to offences under two or more Acts

Where any act constitutes an offence under two or more Acts, the offender shall unless the contrary
intention appears, be liable to be prosecuted and punished under either or any of such Act, but shall not be
liable to be punished more than once for the same offence.
73. Amendment of penalty

Where an act constitutes an offence, and the penalty for such offence is amended between the time of the
commission of such offence and the conviction therefore, the offender shall, unless the contrary intention
appears, be liable to the penalty prescribed at the time of the commission of such offence.
74. Prescription of maximum, minimum daily and cumulative penalties

(1) Where in a written law a penalty is specified in respect of an offence, that penalty is the maximum
penalty that may be imposed for that offence.
(2) Where in a written law more than one penalty is specified in respect of an offence, the use of the
word "and" between the respective penalties means that the penalties may be imposed alternatively
or cumulatively.
(3) Where in a written law a maximum penalty and a minimum penalty are specified in respect of an
offence, the offence is punishable by a penalty not less than that minimum nor greater than that
maximum.
(4) Where in any written law a minimum penalty is specified in respect of an offence, the offence is
punishable by a penalty not less than the minimum.
(5) Where in a written law a penalty specified in respect of an offence is referred to as being a daily
penalty, that reference indicates that a penalty not exceeding that daily penalty may, in addition to
any other penalty that may be imposed in respect of the offence, be imposed for each day or part of
a day during which the offence continues.
75. Provision as to attempts

A provision in any Act which constitutes an offence shall, unless a contrary intention appears, be
deemed to provide also that an attempt to commit such offence shall be an offence under such provision,
punishable as if the offence itself had been committed.

76. Disposal of forfeits

(1) Where by or under any act any animal or anything is adjudged by any court or other authority to
be forfeited, it shall, unless the contrary is otherwise provided or unless it is expressed by law to be
forfeited to any person, be forfeited to the Government of the United Republic, and the net proceeds
thereof, if it is ordered by a competent authority to be sold, shall be paid into and shall form part of
the public revenue unless other provision is made.
(2) Nothing in this section shall affect any provision in any written law whereby any portion of any fine
or forfeit, or of the proceeds of any forfeit, is expressed to be recoverable by any person or may be
granted by any authority to any person.
77. Liability of employer or principal

Where any offence under any Act is committed by a person as an agent or employee then, unless a
contrary intention appears, as well as the agent or employee, the principal or employer shall be guilty of
the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless he proves to the
satisfaction of the court that he had no knowledge, and could not, by the exercise of reasonable diligence,
have had knowledge, of the commission of the offence.
78. Evidence of fiat, sanction or consent of public officer

Wherever the fiat, sanction or consent of any public officer is necessary before any prosecution or action
is commenced, any document purporting to bear such fiat, sanction or consent shall be received as prima
facie evidence in any proceeding without proof being given that the signature is that of the public officer.
79. Exercise of DDP’s functions in his absence

The functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions may, in his absence from headquarters office or
incapacity to act through illness or otherwise, be exercised by such Law Officer as the Attorney-General
may nominate in that behalf.
80. Statement of penalty at end of provision

Where in an Act a penalty —
(a) is specified without qualification at the foot of a section of the Act;
(b) is specified at the foot of a subsection of a section of the Act, but not at the foot of the section; or
(c) is specified at the foot of a section of the Act and expressed to apply to a specified subsection or
specified subsections of the section,
then, unless the contrary is expressly provided, that specification indicates that a contravention of the
section or subsection, or as the case may be. any of the subsections, is an offence and that the offence is
punishable on conviction by a penalty not exceeding that so specified.
81. Continuing offences

(1) Where—
(a) by or under a written law an act or thing is required or directed to be done within a particular
period or before a particular time;
(b) failure to do that act or thing within the period or before the time referred to in paragraph (a)
constitutes an offence; and

(c) that act or thing is not done within the period or before the time referred to in paragraph (a),
the following provisions have effect—
(i) the obligation to do that act or thing continues, notwithstanding that period had
expired or that time has passed, until that act or thing is done;
(ii) where a person is convicted of an offence that, by virtue of subparagraph (i), is

constituted by failure to do that act or thing after the expiration of that period or after
that time, as the case may be, that person is guilty of a separate and further offence in
respect of each day after the day of the conviction during which the failure to do that
act or thing continues; and
(iii) unless otherwise provided, the penalty applicable to each separate and further offence
is the sum equivalent to thirty thousand shillings.
(2) Where—
(a) by or under a written law an act or thing is required or directed to be done but no period
within which or time by which that act or thing is to be done is specified;
(b) failure to do that act or thing constitutes an offence; and
(c) a person is convicted of an offence in respect of a failure to do that act or thing,
that person is guilty of a separate and further offence in respect of each day after the day of
the conviction during which the failure to do that act or thing continues and, unless otherwise
provided, the penalty applicable to each such separate and further offence is the sum of thirty
thousand shillings.
(3) Charges against the same person for any number of offences under subparagraph (ii) of paragraph
(c) of subsection (1) or under subsection (2) may be joined in the same information or complaint if
those offences relate to a failure to do the same act or thing.
[Cap. 4 s. 8]
(4) Where a person is convicted of more than one offence under subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (c) of
subsection (1) or more than the offence under subsection (2), the court may impose one penalty in
respect of all the offences of which the person is so convicted under the relevant subsection, but
that penalty shall not exceed the sum of the maximum penalties that could be imposed if a penalty
were imposed separately in respect of each offence.
[Cap. 4 s. 8]
Part X – Miscellaneous provisions
82. Service of documents by post

(1) Where a written law authorises or requires a document to be served by post, whether the word
"serve" or any of the words "give", "deliver", or "send" or any other similar word or expression is
used, service shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing and posting (by pre-paid post)
the document as a letter to the last-known address and unless the contrary is proved, to have been
effected at the time when the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post.
(2) Where a written law authorises or requires a document to be served by registered post, whether the
word "serve" or any of the words "give", "deliver", or "send" or any other similar word or expression is
used, then, if similar word or expression is used, then, if the document is eligible and acceptable for
transmission as certified mail, the service of the document may be effected either by registered post
or by certified mail.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply unless the contrary intention appears and subsection (2) does not
apply where a written law requires the production of an acknowledgement signed by a person to
whom a document was addressed to the effect that the document was delivered to that person.
83. Service of documents generally

Where a written law authorizes or requires a document to be served, whether the word "serve" or any of
the words "give", "deliver", or send" or any other similar word or expression is used, without directing it to
be served in a particular manner, service of that document may be effected on the person to be served—
(a) by delivering the document to him personally;
(b) by post in accordance with subsection (1) of section 82;
(c) by leaving it for him at his usual or last known place of abode, or if he is a principal of a business, at
his usual or last known place of business; or
(d) in the case of a corporation or of an association of persons (whether incorporated or not)

by delivering or leaving the document or posting it as a letter, addressed in each case to the
corporation or association, at its principal place of business or principal office in the United
Republic.
84. Language of laws of Tanzania

(1) The language of the laws of Tanzania shall be English or Kiswahili or both.
(2) Where any written law is translated from one language into another and published in both
languages, then in the case of conflict or doubt as to the meaning of any word or expression, the
version of die language in which the law was enacted shall take precedence.
(3) Where any written law is enacted in both languages and there occurs a conflict or doubt as to the
meaning of any word or expression, the English version shall take precedence.
85. Repeal
Repeals Act No. 30 of 1972.

Schedule (Section 4)
Commonwealth countries
Antigua and Bermuda Namibia
Australia Nauru
The Bahamas New Zealand
Bangladesh Nigeria
Barbados Papua New Guinea
Belize Seychelles
Botswana Sierra Leone
Brunei Darusalaam Singapore
Canada Solomon Islands
Mauritius South Africa
Cyprus Sri Lanka
Dominica St. Kitts and Nevis
The Gambia St. Lucia
Ghana St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Grenada Swaziland
Pakistan Tanzania
Guyan Tonga
India Trinidad and Tobago

Jamaica Tuvalu
Kenya Uganda
Kiribati United Kingdom
Lesotho Vanuatu
Malawi Western Somoa
Malaysia Zambia
Maldives Zimbambwe
Malta
Mozambique

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Tanzania

Interpretation of Laws Act

Legislation as at 30 November 2019

FRBR URI: /akn/tz/act/1996/4/eng@2019-11-30

PDF created on 7 June 2024 at 10:45.

Collection last checked for updates: 31 July 2002.

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1. Short title .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

3. Act to bind the Republic ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Part II – General provisions of interpretation .......................................................................................................................................... 2

4. Deﬁnitions applicable to written laws ............................................................................................................................................. 2

5. Application of deﬁnitions ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8

6. Laws always speaking ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8

7. Parts of speech and grammatical forms .......................................................................................................................................... 8

8. Gender and number ................................................................................................................................................................................ 8

9. Reference in written law to the Minister ........................................................................................................................................ 8

10. References by number to be inclusive .......................................................................................................................................... 8

11. Construction of internal references to section, etc. .................................................................................................................. 8

12. Reference to written law as amended ........................................................................................................................................... 9

13. Disjunctive construction of "or" ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

Part III – Commencement and citation of laws ....................................................................................................................................... 9

14. Date of commencement of Act ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

15. Time of commencement of written laws ..................................................................................................................................... 9

17. Construction of power to ﬁx date of commencement .............................................................................................................. 9

18. Evidence of date of assent .............................................................................................................................................................. 10

19. Exercise of powers before commencement .............................................................................................................................. 10

20. Citation of written laws .................................................................................................................................................................... 11

21. References in written law to day of commencement ............................................................................................................ 11

Part IV – Provisions as to enactment and operation of written law .............................................................................................. 11

22. Acts to be public Acts ....................................................................................................................................................................... 11

23. Section to be substantive enactment .......................................................................................................................................... 11

24. Act may be altered or repealed in same session .................................................................................................................... 11

25. Preambles and Schedules ................................................................................................................................................................ 11

26. Headings, marginal notes, footnotes and rectiﬁcation of errors ....................................................................................... 12

Part V – Amendment and repeal of written law ................................................................................................................................... 12

27. Construction of amending Act with amended Act .................................................................................................................. 12

28. Repeal of written law as amended .............................................................................................................................................. 12

29. Repeal of repeal .................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

31. Effect of substituting provisions ................................................................................................................................................... 12

32. General savings on repeal ............................................................................................................................................................... 13

33. Effect of repeal of Act on subsidiary legislation ..................................................................................................................... 13

34. Effect of expiry of written law ....................................................................................................................................................... 13

Part VI – Provisions relating to subsidiary legislation ........................................................................................................................ 13

35. President may make subsidiary legislation ............................................................................................................................... 13

36. General provisions regarding power to make subsidiary legislation ............................................................................... 14

37. Publication and commencement of subsidiary legislation ................................................................................................... 15

38. Laying regulations before National Assembly and disallowance ...................................................................................... 15

39. Construction of subsidiary legislation ......................................................................................................................................... 16

40. Citation of subsidiary legislation .................................................................................................................................................. 16

41. Reference to written law to include subsidiary legislation ................................................................................................. 16

43. Fees and charges ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16

Part VII – Statutory powers and duties .................................................................................................................................................... 17

44. Time for exercise of power or performance of duty .............................................................................................................. 17

45. Reference to holder of ofﬁce includes successors .................................................................................................................. 17

46. Construction of enabling words .................................................................................................................................................... 17

47. Power to issue licence, etc, discretionary .................................................................................................................................. 18

48. Power to appoint includes power to suspend, dismiss, etc. ............................................................................................... 18

50. Power of majority quorum etc. ...................................................................................................................................................... 19