NJERI KABEBERIEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CENTRE FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY(CMD-KENYA)

KENYA: A SHINING LIGHT IN

POLITICAL PARTY DIALOGUE

KENYA: POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

• Kenya’s Independence from Britain in 1963: We are a Multi-party state with Kenya National African Union (KANU) being the front runner.

• The bliss of multi-party politics ends in 1969, with key opposition leaders being arrested and detained without trial - the country becomes de facto one party state.

• Following the attempted coup in 1982: The situation for multi-party politics becomes even worse; in June 1982, the National Assembly officially declares a one party state by amending the law, making Kenya a de jure one party state.

POLITICAL LANDSCAPE CONTINUED

In December 1991; Parliament annuls the one party section of the Constitution and Kenya returns to multi-party politics.

The 2002 General Elections is the 3rd one since the onset of multi-party politics.

The National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) finally rid the nation of what was globally perceived as a KANU dictatorship.

HIGHLIGHT MOMENTS FOR CMD-KENYA

‘Dialogue is not one more way: its the only way’! This was the position held by CMD and its partners in the Kofi Annan mediated talks of January-February 2008.

CMD was at the forefront of supporting the 2010 Constitution Process and accompanying Legal and Institutional Reforms

CMD-Kenya: A platform of equals (big and small political parties are members of the centre)

CMD-Kenya has Sustainable Structures and early buy-ins at the onset in 2004 gave the members something to hold on to and defend.

Facilitation skills are key to a successful dialogue process

Evidence in my country has shown that development is related to politics and every time we have a weak political moment (2008) security, human rights and development are highly affected.

“INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES”

THE CASE OF CMD-KENYA

1. Direct support to political party leadership and party cadres: Bilateral and Cross party programs

2. Inclusivity: Gender mainstreaming in politics, Youth in political parties, participation of minorities and PWDs

4. Communicating effectively to the outside publics/internally

5. Contribution and support to the Political Parties Act (PPA 2007 and 2011)

6. Issues of national importance: Conflict Mitigation, Constitution, Memorization of our history, building bridges of understanding

NEXT STEPSLeadership Institute for Political Parties!

Actualization of the 2/3rds gender rule in the political arena

Continued support of the Dialogue Platform

National and County level Support

A new breed of political leadership: Youth and Communication capacity building

Implementation of a new constitution

Action Points for EU Commission

Compliment efforts of the NIMD in supporting development of political parties.

Where possible work with the CMDs in the country (Kenya has exemplified that the CMD-Kenya has added value to major governance issues and moved in at critical moments).

Political Party Dialogue is working in many countries and it is an entry point towards Good Governance as indeed politics affects everything else in a country.

ASANTE SANA

CENTRE FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY (CMD-KENYA)

Sixth (6th) floor, International House P.O. BOX 9903-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254-20-2215731/82 or +254-20-

2216118/9 Fax: +254-20-2216119 Email: info@imd-cmd.co.ke www.cmd-kenya.org