Kenya

Kenya

Since 2009, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has worked to strengthen democracy in Kenya. Its programmes have supported the National Assembly, Senate, and County Assemblies to enhance their effectiveness in representation, legislation, and oversight; promoted greater political participation by youth and persons with disabilities; facilitated initiatives on environmental democracy; and advanced the use of digital technologies to support democratic governance. These efforts are particularly relevant in Kenya’s dynamic political context, characterised by an evolving system of devolution, a competitive multiparty environment, and a growing demand for more inclusive and accountable governance.
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Key areas of work

Anti-corruption

We helped set up Kenya’s chapter of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC Kenya) and have provided technical advice to APNAC Kenya on legislation covering money laundering, the proceeds of crime, whistle blowing and public finance management.  

Political inclusion

We collaborated with three county assemblies to include people’s experiences and insights as new disability legislation was debated and brought into law. 

Strengthening civil society

By bringing together over 25 civil society organisations, we helped form the Civil Society Parliamentary Engagement Network, which now works closely with Kenya’s parliament and plays an active role in the country’s legislative processes.

Elections

The British High Commission in Kenya asked WFD to offer technical advice ahead of the 2022 General Election. Our work included supporting the country’s election regulator as it prepared for the vote.  

Youth engagement

The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance sets out how to provide a platform for young leaders to be heard and shape debates on governance. Together with partners in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, we devised innovative approaches to build understanding of the charter, create consensus and increase participation among young people.

Advancing democratic governance through stronger parliaments

Through targeted support to parliamentary committees and secretariats, WFD has helped strengthen financial oversight, enhance legislative scrutiny, and improve debt management processes.

Our work has included direct engagement with the Senate’s County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) to boost its oversight capabilities, as well as collaboration with the Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations (CDIR), the Senate Committee on Health, and the National Assembly’s Public Debt and Privatisation Committee. 

Environmental democracy

WFD is strengthening climate finance oversight in Kenya by providing the Senate, County Assemblies, and civil society organisations with innovative tools to improve transparency and accountability. These tools include climate budget tracking templates, oversight scorecards, and citizen-led audit models, all designed to monitor the allocation and use of devolved climate action funds.

This approach ensures that these institutions can effectively scrutinise funding, hold decision-makers accountable, and ensure that climate investments are aligned with local needs and priorities.

Democratic resilience in a digital world

WFD supported political parties in exploring how digital technologies can enhance democratic practices. By piloting an integrated voting system platform during internal party elections, WFD generated valuable insights that contributed to sector-wide knowledge on strengthening inclusive and transparent political party processes.

Current programmes

Grant-in-Aid (GIA) programme (April 2022 – March 2026)

This FCDO-funded programme supports the Parliament of Kenya in its efforts to become a more open, accountable, inclusive, and well enabled institution for all Kenyans. We do this by providing key stakeholders – including the Senate Liaison Office (SLO), Parliamentary Committees e.g., Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations (CDIR), African Parliamentarians’ Network Against Corruption (APNAC), and the Civil Society Parliamentary Engagement Network (CSPEN) – with regular technical support.  The programme has also introduced its partners to innovative tools in democratic governance, such as foresight planning for anticipatory governance and corruption-proofing legislation.

The Kenyan office also continues to serve as a link and facilitator for Kenyan MPs and civil society organisation’s (CSOs) to WFD global trainings and support.

Advancing Democratic and Sustainable Political Parties (ADSPP) programme (January – December 2025)

This initiative builds on the success of the concluded KIPP programme (see below) through the WFD and Demo-Finland partnership. The ADSPP programme supports political parties in becoming more transparent and inclusive. It provides political parties with the skills and knowledge needed to strengthen internal processes, democratic frameworks to enhance their operations, and platforms for engagement, learning, and sharing best practices to promote an equitable political environment.

Completed programmes

Kenya Inclusive Political Parties (KIPP) programme (2020 – 2024)

To help strengthen inclusive democracy in Kenya, and particularly focusing on people with disabilities, WFD and Demo Finland developed the Kenya Inclusive Political Parties (KIPP) programme. The programme addressed the critical knowledge gaps within political parties to create and promote more inclusive political discourse, political commitments, and public policymaking. The programme worked with 16 political parties and 25 civil society organisations.

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Completed
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Kenya Devolution Programme (KDP) (December 2021 – December 2023)

Through this programme, funded by FCDO and led by ACT!,  WFD worked to enhance the capacities of seven County Committees, focusing on public finance management. This included improving planning, budgeting, and oversight through tailored guidance.

Status
Completed
10

Inclusive and Accountable Politics (IAP) programme (April 2019 – March 2022)

Through the FCDO-funded Inclusive and Accountable Politics (IAP) programme, WFD supported the Parliament of Kenya in its efforts to become a more open, accountable, inclusive, and well enabled institution for all Kenyans. 

Status
Completed
10

Supporting Parliamentarians in Sub-Saharan Africa to prepare for COP26 programme (January – June 2021)

Ahead of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), WFD and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) implemented a programme to inform parliamentarians in five Sub-Saharan African countries, including Kenya, of COP26 issues.  The programme supported Kenyan parliamentarians in examining their national progress in delivering Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and helped the MPs in scrutinising Kenya’s climate policies and legislations.

Status
Completed
10

Building Inclusiveness and Accountability for Democratic Governance at County level (2018 – 2020)

WFD through the Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy (CP4D) implemented a programme that sought to foster greater political engagement of PWDs. We did this by creating a platform for dialogue and structured interaction between Members of County Assembly and disabled persons organizations – enabling PWDs to engage with policy makers and duty bearers. 

Status
Completed
10

East African Commonwealth Youth Leaders Programme (2018 – 2020)

To place young people at the forefront of the regional development agenda of the EAC, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in partnership with youth organisations across the East African Community (EAC) implemented the East African Commonwealth Youth Leaders Initiative. The initiative promoted the African Charter on Democracy Elections and Governance (ACDEG). It also provided a platform for youth leaders to raise their voices and meaningfully participate in discussions about governance issues which affect development in the region. This initiative was delivered through the Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy (CP4D).

Status
Completed
10

Strengthening Public Finance Oversight Programme (2018 – 2019)

WFD, through funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), implemented a programme that strengthened the oversight and scrutiny capabilities of the Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC). The programme introduced principles of proactive audit to CPAIC to support periodic assessments of identified government projects during their implementation.

Status
Completed
10

Strengthening Institutional Capacity of the Senate (2016 – 2018)

In 2015, WFD Kenya shifted the focus of its work to the Senate. The WFD programme aimed at enabling a successful devolution of powers by improving both the legislative and representative roles of the Senate.

Status
Completed
10

The Kenya Governance Improvement Programme (2012 – 2015)

In 2012, WFD, in partnership with civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media, prioritised working with County Assemblies to develop their capacity to oversee and influence the county budget making process. Working with the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST), WFD developed a Public Finance Management manual for legislatures which was utilised in trainings at both national and county levels.

Status
Completed
10

The role of political parties in addressing Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) and gendered disinformation in Kenya (March 2025)

Political parties have a crucial role in protecting their members, yet existing party structures and policies do not provide adequate safeguards against online and offline VAWP in Kenya. This project commissioned research to explore the nature of VAWP and gender disinformation in Kenya and the role of political parties in its prevention and mitigation. The research culminated in a workshop with representatives from political parties and a meeting with wider stakeholders to validate the findings and to raise the profile of the issue ahead of the elections in 2027.

Status
Completed
10

Key results

Supported the successful gazettement of the Kakamega County Disability Bill (2019) and the passing of the Homa Bay County Disability Act (2019), ensuring stronger legal frameworks for the inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities at the county level. 

Supported the development of policies for devolution at both the Senate and County levels, leading to more effective implementation of devolved governance and enhanced local decision-making.

Facilitated sustained collaboration between members of county assemblies (MCAs) and disabled persons organisations (DPOs) to advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in legislative and governance processes. 

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) adopted the Disability Inclusion Charter as a guiding document, enabling the monitoring of political parties' compliance with constitutional disability inclusion requirements.

Strengthened engagement between civil society and Parliament, fostering greater citizen participation in the legislative process and promoting legislative openness, transparency, and the inclusion of diverse voices in decision-making.

Contributed to the improvement of information quality needed to effectively monitor policy implementation.

Supported the establishment of the first East African Youth Parliament, focusing on the ratification and domestication of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, which contributed to Kenya's subsequent ratification of the Charter.

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Successfully capacitated the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee (PDPC) of the National Assembly to conduct more effective oversight of debt management, improving transparency and accountability in national debt policies.

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Nairobi
Kenya