Good governance is paramount for development in Kenya. Since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, Kenya has, and continues to, put in place measures for building a strong, independent and prosperous country for the benefit of its citizens. It has made significant progress in strengthening institutions, tackling corruption domestically, and taking an active role regionally through the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union. However, there are concerns that weak institutions may undermine the country’s progress, especially in the context of the 2021 referendum and 2022 general election.
Against a backdrop of strategic leadership roles, which includes Kenya’s seat on the United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC) and African Union’s Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), Chairmanship of the East Africa Community (EAC), and the African, Caribbean and the Pacific States (APC), the country has the opportunity to highlight how it can role-model open societies and support global and regional institutions in enforcing the international rules-based order. How Kenya conducts itself at the domestic level, has a wider regional and global bearing; an all-too-important tool, at this moment when Kenya is well-positioned to optimise its influence around the globe.
This virtual conference on ‘Kenya’s Good Governance Moment, At Home, Regionally and Globally’, organized by Wilton Park and the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi, with the support of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) in Kenya, took place in March 2021.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to explore the key issues around governance in Kenya and identify recommendations to achieve positive structural change. Participation included international regional and domestic good governance experts, stakeholders in devolution, civil society organisations and faith groups, the private sector and business community as well as representatives from the executive, judiciary, legislature and other key electoral and governance bodies.
Wilton Park reference number: WP1911V
