Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Kenya

NIMD's Kenya programme focuses on building political consensus for democratic reforms.

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Programme news

Outcomes of the Africa Regional Conference in Maputo, Mozambique

News Article - 21 September 2011

On 19-21 September 2011, NIMD organised a regional conference on Constitutional Reforms and Constitutionalism in Africa in Maputo, Mozambique. At the end of the conference, participants issued a communiqué that outlined key outcomes and conclusions of the deliberations.

Africa Regional Conference held in Maputo on 19-21 September

News Article - 16 September 2011

NIMD, in cooperation with Mozambican political parties, hosts an African Regional Conference on Constitutional Reforms and Constitutionalism in Africa in Maputo from 18 to 21 September 2011. Former President of Mozambique and Chair Person of the Africa Forum of Former Heads of State and Government J

Learning how to avoid post-election violence

Case Study - 2010

When Malawi was gearing up for elections in 2009, the political climate was characterised by high tensions. There were signs that if not managed properly, the violence that devastated Kenya in 2008 might be repeated in Malawi.

Kenyans study electoral system in South Africa

Video - 2010

Video report of a visit by Kenyan politicians and electoral commission officials to South Africa, 28 November - 3 December 2009

Constitutional reform in Africa

Video - 2010

Video report of a regional exchange held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 3-8 May, to compare constitutional review processes

Impetus for reform in Kenya with Dutch support

News Article - 05 August 2010

Yesterday, a large majority of the Kenyan people approved a new constitution through a referendum. Both the result and the peaceful conduct of the referendum present a great mandate for political reform in Kenya.

Je, unaikubali katiba mpya inayopendekezwa?

News Article - 03 August 2010

On 4 August, Kenyans go to the polls, facing a choice between 'Yes' or 'No' in answer to the question: "Do you approve the proposed constitution?" or in Swahili: "Je, unaikubali katiba mpya inayopendekezwa?"

Constitutional reform: a democratic contest of ideas

News Article - 29 June 2010

Today, a number of African countries are moving towards a constitutional order that is not only democratic and legitimate, but also inclusive and popularly accepted.

Njeri Kabeberi: humanitarian gold medallist

News Article - 15 June 2010

Njeri Kebeberi is the Director of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy in Kenya (CMD-K). In the aftermath of the troubled 2007 elections, CMD-K played a visible and constructive role in fostering a multi-actor dialogue.

President Museveni of Uganda endorses interparty dialogue

News Article - 27 May 2010

NIMD’s Africa Regional Programme conference is being hosted by the Ugandan political parties who, on 5 February 2010, launched an interparty dialogue platform known as the Interparty Organisation for Dialogue, (IPOD).

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At a glance ...

Political parties in parliament

• Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
• Party of National Unity (PNU)
• Orange Democratic Movement – Kenya (ODM-K)
• Kenya African National Union (KANU)
• SAFINA (a part of the Party of National Unity)
• National Rainbow Coalition – Kenya (NARC-Kenya)
• National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)
• Forum for Restoration of Democracy – People (Ford-P)
• Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU)
• Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya (PICK)
• New Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya (New Ford-K)
• Democratic Party of Kenya (DP)
• Sisi Kwa Sisi Party
• Patriotic Party of Kenya (PPK)
• Mazingira Greens party
• Kenya National Democratic Alliance (KENDA)
• United Democratic Movement (UDM)
• Kenya African Democratic Development Union (KADDU)
• Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya (Ford-K)
• Progressive Development Party (PDP)
• National Labour Party (NLP)
• Kenya African Democratic Union Asili (KADU-A)
• Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili (Ford-A)

Key achievements in 2009

• In 2009 NIMD’s Kenyan partner, the Centre for Multiparty Democracy Kenya (CMD-K) played a visible and constructive role in fostering a multi-actor dialogue, bringing together political and civil society around the national reform agenda, and building consensus for the necessary constitutional reform. CMD-K and the political parties also worked on the implementation of the Political Parties Act 2008 which resulted in the political parties receiving their first instalment of public funds. The year ended with a first draft constitution for Kenya, promising much hope for an improved balance of power in the future.

Key achievements in 2008

• Broadly shared reform
Despite the violent and chaotic situation that characterized the early start of 2008, CMD-Kenya has been able to secure its position as a bastion of democracy and persistently pushed for a broadly shared reform agenda. In this sense CMD-Kenya has proven to be a key risk mitigating mechanism in the country.
• Civil society engagement
CMD-Kenya earned a respected place in the Kenyan political spectrum by placing itself as a strategic nexus between political and civil society. Vis a vis the Annan negotiation team the organization successfully brought to the fore the concerns of a broad spectrum of political and civil society actors in Kenya. This involvement of CMD-Kenya has strengthened the support base for the Annan brokered agreement between PNU and ODM, and the ensuing reform agenda. Furthermore it provided CMD-Kenya with a unique starting position to promote implementation of the Annan agenda in the remainder of the year and to play its part in national debates on democratic reform.
• Ethnic reconciliation
Although triggered by the disputed electoral results, the 2007/2008 post election violence in Kenya manifested itself along ethnic lines. In order to address the (real and perceived) social and economic disparities between Kenya’s ethnic groups, CMD-Kenya developed the ‘Building Bridges of Understanding’ programme, designed to break ethnic isolation and foster communication and understanding across ethnic groups in Kenya.
• Party funding
In previous years NIMD provided direct funding to political parties in Kenya, with the aim of reinforcing their institutional capacity. However, due to the volatile situation in the country and the shattered political landscape after the December 2007 elections this ‘bilateral’ programme was temporarily put on hold in 2008. The parties continued to receive trainings, for instance on the implications of the new Political Parties Act, within a cross party setting.

Key national partners

• Centre for Multiparty Democracy – Kenya (CMD-Kenya)
• Electoral Commission for Kenya (ECK)
• Law Reform Commission
• CAPF consortium of NGOs, including Transparency International and the Centre for Governance and Democracy (CGD)
• Media Focus on Africa
• Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
• Citizen TV
• Rotary Club
• Former Parliamentarians Association of Kenya (FPAK)

Key international partners

• Royal Netherlands Embassy
• Ford Foundation, United States of America
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
• Department for International Development (DFID), United Kingdom
• U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Heinrich Böhl Foundation, Germany
• National Democratic Institute (NDI), United States of America
• International Republican Institute (IRI), United States of America
• European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA)