a) Location:

b) Classification:

5. Kenya Situation Update

The Political and Socio-economic Situation

A) The Presidential Succession

The elections in Kenya were concluded peacefully and KANU the party that had been in power for 39 years lost to a coalition of political parties, the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc). Narc won with an overwhelming majority of 128 seats as opposed to KANU's 69 seats. The former president Moi handed over power to the new president Hon. Mwai Kibaki on 30th December 2002 who was on a wheel chair as a result of an accident he had in December 2002 during the campaigns.

President Kibaki announced his cabinet a week later, which was leaner than the previous one and was described by Kenyans as fairly representative and had professionals slotted in as Ministers. For the first time in Kenya's history the cabinet was announced at a press conference at state house. Kenyans have very high expectations of the new government and are very hopeful.

The Constitution of Kenya Review Process

The exclusion of donor support from the 2002-03 budget proposals has continued to adversely affect Kenya's economic performance during the year. This had been done partly to create an atmosphere of non-interference for the sake of political agenda during the year. This has given the new government a hard time. The new government has already implemented one of its campaign pledges; the free education policy and this has led to a deficit of Kenya shillings 89 billion in the sector. The government has also promised to pay the teachers as agreed with the former government and this means starting June 2003. The Minister for Health, Charity Ngilu, said no one should be detained in hospital due to lack of money and the public took this to mean health care is free. The question to all this is, will the government afford it all at a go?   To complicate further when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team visited the country it was taken to mean resumption of Aid but Kenyans have to wait for at least another five months as this can only come in July 2003. However things look bright because parliament opens in February and among the Bills slotted for immediate discussion is the Anti-corruption Bill, Constitutional Review Bill  and the Economic Crimes Bill which are part of the conditionality for the resumption of Aid. 

7. Is the Resident Coordinator also the Director of United Nations Information Centre? No

8. Is there a Special Representative of the Secretary General or other especial Envoy of the Secretary General assigned to the country? No.

9. UN Funds, Programmes and Agencies

10. Inter-Agency task forces and/or UN Theme Groups operational in the country

Six Theme Groups are currently operational (see below) and are engaged in the design and implementation of collaborative activities, reporting to the Kenya Country Committee (KCC). Issues such as poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS gender-mainstreaming; environment and governance form key elements of their operational activities. Based on the activities of Theme Groups, there has been a great increase in networking, information sharing and the design of collaborative projects.

• Governance, Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction; -Chairs: UNDP and UNIDO

• Rural Development and Natural Resources Management; Chair: FAO

• Basic Social Services; Co-Chairs: UNICEF and WHO
  

• Gender, Population and Development; Co-Chairs: UNIFEM and UNFPA.

• Disaster Management; Chair: WFP
  

• HIV/AIDS;Chair: UNFPA

11. Operational Committees

a. Inter-Agency Administration Committee (IAAC): deals with harmonization and collaboration on administrative issues. It is jointly convened by UNDP and United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), and reports to Kenya Country Committee.

b. Information and Communications Committee (ICC): identifies common UN system public information needs and addresses special information projects and events. It is coordinated by United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and reports to Kenya Country Committee.

c. Security Management Team (SMT): addresses common security needs. It is coordinated by United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) and the Resident Coordinator, and reports to Kenya Country Committee.

12. Status of Development Planning Instruments

a. Country Strategy Note (CSN): Kenya's development priorities were articulated in the CSN of 1994.

b. Common Country Assessment (CCA): preparation of the CCA for Kenya was completed in 1998. The CCA was revised and the second generation CCA was completed in October 2001.

c. Harmonization of Programme Cycles: The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) is the programmatic basis for the formulation of agency country program outlines, applicable for UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP. They adopted the same country programme approval process and will present their country programmes to a joint executive board in June 2003. Once approved programming on a fully harmonized programme cycle will start in January 2004. 

d. United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF): Kenya's 1998 UNDAF has been reviewed and a draft UNDAF has been submitted to New York and the published copy is expected to be out by March 2003. It is due for mid-term review in 2006.

The current political and economic situation looks very promising with the new government that has a vision to "work together with all Kenyans to bring about effective economic reforms and growth". It has made pledges to revitalize the country's economy by streamlining the process of economic and financial management as well as harmonizing the mechanisms for implementation. The UN country team has an opportunity to support the new Government in accomplishing its new programmes, focusing on enhancing the capacities of key governance institutions and establishing a rights approach; entrenching a culture of openness, transparency and accountability; enhancing access to quality basic social services; and promoting sustainable livelihoods and protecting the environment. Donors are expected to resume aid after several Bills are passed in parliament. The political and economic situation looks very promising and the UN system can provide support in strengthening capacities to accelerate reform and reduce poverty in Kenya.

Working both collectively and individually throughout 2002, UN agencies in Kenya have strengthened coordination and collaboration, with Theme Groups playing a central role in networking, information sharing and the design of collaborative projects. Specific areas of collaboration included database design and development, joint sectoral situation analyses; common policy and advocacy strategies on such areas as disaster management; HIV/AIDS; immunization for polio and measles; child rights; violence against women; and reproductive health.

One of the main achievements early this year in terms of collaborative programming is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between five UN agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UN-HABITAT, UNICEF and UNIFEM) and Central Bureau of Statistics on behalf of the Kenya Government. This is towards a joint work plan for 2003 on collection, storage and dissemination of data and information and was to the tune of Ksh. 110 Million. 
UN/CBS Memorandum of Understanding

a. support to national efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

· Increase UN advocacy/public information messages and visibility
· Develop a national MDGs advocacy campaign involving all stakeholders 
· Develop and implement an institutionalized monitoring, evaluation and reporting   system.
· Re align UN activities in Kenya to realize development outcomes that contribute directly to the MDGs

· Analyze policy dimensions and cost implications for realizing MDGs 

b. Country level coordination

· Harmonized programme cycle for UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP based on new UNDAF prepared in 2002
· Integrate UN programming instruments within national priorities and policies as defined under the Poverty reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)
· Identify and implement new and innovative mechanisms for joint programming, advocacy and resource mobilization

c. Support to UN common and/or shared services

· Contribution to the enhancement of shared and/or common services
· Consultations and networking under the Inter-agency administrative committee
· Institutionalize administrative management strategies for the UN system in Kenya and in UNON, Gigiri.
· Increase the use of common and/or shared services (communication: travel: purchasing, etc.
· Disseminate information and documentation relating to administrative matters
· Follow-up on the recommendations of the Inter Agency Administrative Committee (IAAC) and prepare reports for Kenya Country Committee.

d. Constituency building activities

· Increase interface with the Bretton Woods Institutions in the context of Kenya Coordination Group and EGG; seek World Bank's increased participation in collaborative activities, e.g., revision of Common Country Assessment.
· Enhance collaboration with the government, civil society and where possible, the private sector, particularly in the preparation of a revised Common Country Assessment.

e. UN system public information, networking and advocacy

· Support to 'Heart and Soul' Project
· Support to production of brochures and newsletters
· Support enhanced information sharing through the upgrading  of Resident Coordinator System web-site.
· Facilitate concerted UN public information and advocacy, e.g., "Heart and Soul".
· Facilitate access to data and information on the UN system's development role and experience on socio-economic change.
· Develop a database covering rosters of national experts, NGOs, donors, etc.
· Facilitate the compilation of a calendar/directory of UN activities and UN days.

f. Strengthening coordination capacity in the Resident Coordinator system

· Staffing of Resident Coordinator Unit
· Retreats and other Country Team consultations
· Office operational costs
· Facilities, maintenance and equipment purchase
· Hire of short-term prorgramme assistantship

After moving in 1998, UNCRD, UNDP, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNAIDS and UNIFEM settled down in the common premises at UNON, Gigiri. The move has improved collaboration and led to more efficient use of resources as well as inter-agency networking. UN staff members who had been working far from each other now have the opportunity to meet more regularly. A number of services such as conference facilities, reception, telephone, fax and e-mail are now used commonly or shared. It is planned that others (FAO, UNHCR, WHO) will follow over the next two or three years.