Kenya

Three pictures of people put together

Kenya

Introduction
To support stronger democracy in Kenya, WFD has been working in the East African country since 2009: from implementing parliamentary strengthening programmes that enhance the capacities of the National Assembly, Senate, and County Assemblies for more effective representation, legislation, and oversight; to programmes that promote youth and persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation in politics.

Our programmes in Kenya have produced successes such as helping the Senate to play a more effective role in providing national support and guidance to county governments as per its mandate; helping to pass disability bills in three counties; supporting the set-up of functional disability leagues as channels for engagement of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in politics in four political parties; and, strengthening engagement between parliament and civil society organizations (CSOs) towards greater legislative openness and structured civic engagement.

Our programmes

Grant-in-Aid (GIA) programme (April 2022 – March 2025)

Background

Transparency, accountability, and inclusion are high on Kenya’s national, development and political reform agendas. But despite Kenya’s strong constitutional, legal, and institutional provisions, the implementation and enforcement of policies and reforms remains a challenge. The highly political and fluid nature of governance weakens the ability for actors/institutions to effectively implement and address longstanding issues of accountability, transparency, and inclusion. These include corruption, citizen engagement, inclusive representation, and the function and relationships between different institutions to realise effective service delivery to citizens.

Programme objectives

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) – regular technical support. 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.

Kenya Inclusive Political Parties (KIPP) programme (2020 – 2023)

Background

Equality and inclusion are key priority areas in Kenya’s national agenda. Article 54 (2) of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution stipulates that the state shall ensure that at least 5% of members of the public in elective and appointive bodies are persons with disabilities (PWDs). According to the 2019 census, 2.2% (0.9 million people) of Kenyans live with some form of disability. Despite this significant numbers, PWDs in Kenya continue to experience systemic exclusion from mainstream governance and developmental processes. This exclusion has been particularly acute in areas of political representation, with limited efforts by political parties to provide a conducive environment for PWDs to engage in politics.

Programme objectives

The participation of PWDs in political and public life is a human right as well as an important factor that promotes inclusive development. When PWDs participate in political and public life their voice is heard and reflected in policy decisions. To help strengthen inclusive democracy in Kenya, WFD and Demo Finland developed the Kenya Inclusive Political Parties (KIPP) programme. The programme addresses the critical knowledge gaps within political parties to create and promote more inclusive political discourse, political commitments, and public policymaking.

Completed programmes

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

In 2010, Kenya's Constitution brought in reforms to promote transparency and citizen engagement in public finance management. Despite this, challenges at the county level affected financial accountability, impacting planning and oversight.

To tackle this, the Kenya Devolution Programme (KDP), funded by FCDO and led by ACT!, partnered with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). 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.

The counties—Kilifi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Isiolo, Turkana, and Mandera—benefited from this collaborative effort, making strides in transparent resource utilisation. This initiative signifies progress in ensuring effective financial accountability in Kenya's devolved governance.

Status
Completed
10
Start date
Planned end date

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

Inclusive, open, and accountable democratic institutions, such as parliaments, are key to improving citizens’ trust and addressing democratic deficits. 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. This is by providing key IAP stakeholders – including the Senate Liaison Office (SLO), Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST), African Parliamentarians’ Network Against Corruption (APNAC), and the Civil Society Parliamentary Engagement Network (CSPEN) – regular technical guidance. WFD Kenya maximised the impact of WFD global expert products on financial accountability and inclusive politics by tailoring them to the Kenyan context. The Kenyan office also served as a link and facilitator for Kenyan MPs and civil society organisations (CSOs) to WFD global trainings and support.

Status
Completed
10
Planned end date

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

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. To mitigate this challenge, huge changes at all levels of society, politics and businesses are required. 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 January to June 2021 programme supported Kenyan parliamentarians in examining their national progress in delivering Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The programme also helped the MPs in scrutinising Kenya’s climate policies and legislations.

Status
Completed
10
Planned end date

More completed programmes

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

Public participation in Kenya is viewed as a constitutional right with various platforms created for citizens to engage in governance processes. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have experienced systemic exclusion from policy and legislative processes due to challenges in accessing information and unstructured engagement. 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. The programme was implemented in Homa Bay, Kakamega and Kisumu counties in partnership with Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY). The programme realised the gazettement of 3 disability legislations, integration of inclusive budgeting by Kakamega County government through allocation of KES 60 million towards economic development of PWDs, and increased engagement of PWDs in governance within the 3 counties.

East African Commonwealth Youth Leaders Programme (2018 – 2020)

Meaningful participation of young people in decision making for sustainable development and good governance has been constrained across East Africa. This is mostly due to lack of concerted efforts and platforms to include young people in democratic spaces. The challenges faced by young people are rarely discussed/given prominence or are merged with priorities in other sectors. Young people are often disregarded as actors that should be at the forefront of interventions to eradicate poverty, build resilient communities, and bring forward best practices for good governance and development. 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).Meaningful participation of young people in decision making for sustainable development and good governance has been constrained across East Africa. This is mostly due to lack of concerted efforts and platforms to include young people in democratic spaces. The challenges faced by young people are rarely discussed/given prominence or are merged with priorities in other sectors. Young people are often disregarded as actors that should be at the forefront of interventions to eradicate poverty, build resilient communities, and bring forward best practices for good governance and development. 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).

Strengthening Public Finance Oversight Programme (2018 – 2019)

Oversight institutions in Kenya continue to be challenged by both a complex political context as well as gaps in organisational capacity, which have undermined their ability to fully discharge their mandate. The effects of these challenges have manifested themselves through increased cases of corruption, as cited in the massive losses in government projects. Effective functioning of public oversight institutions is one of the critical elements that contribute to improved accountability in the management of goods and services for a more accountable and inclusive governance. 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.

Strengthening Institutional Capacity of the Senate (2016 – 2018)

In 2015, WFD Kenya shifted the focus of its work to the Senate. During its previous engagements with County Assemblies, the Senate had often played a critical role in resolving intra–county issues that would otherwise have undermined WFD’s work. Seeing the potential in helping the Senate play its role more consistently and effectively, WFD formalized its relationship with the Senate with a MOU and a multi-year programme. This in turn helped the Senate play a more effective role in providing national support and guidance to county governments as per its mandate. The programme aimed at enabling a successful devolution of powers by improving both the legislative and representative roles of the Senate.

The Kenya Governance Improvement Programme (2012 – 2015)

The 2010 constitution of Kenya created 47 counties and started the process of devolving power in Kenya’s political institutions. The constitutional reform sought to balance local and national interests by bringing the delivery of vital services such as sanitation, education, and healthcare closer to citizens. The success of devolution is judged by the extent to which service delivery effectively and efficiently reaches all Kenyan citizens. 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. Additionally, WFD adopted an innovative approach to working with County Budget and Appropriation Committees (BAPCs) by partnering with former MPs from the National Assembly’s Budget Committee. Through WFD’s help, the former MPs created a specialist working group. The group travelled to counties and provided mentorship to members of the Assemblies’ budget committees as they responded to draft budgets submitted by the county executive.

Key results

Supported the gazettement of the Kakamega County Disability Bill (2019)

Supported policy development for devolution at Senate and County levels

Supported the passing of the Homa Bay County disability Act, 2019 on December 2019

Creation of County Disability Caucuses that bring together Members of County Assembly and disabled persons organisations (DPOs) as advocates for persons with disabilities (PWDs) inclusion in legislative and governance processes

Information needed to monitor policy implementation improved in quality

Supported the first East African Youth parliament on the ratification and domestication of African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

Contact us

1st Ngong Avenue, ACK Garden House 2nd Floor, Wing A
Nairobi
Kenya