Continuing the Gains from the Kenya
National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process
What is the Continuing the Gains from the Kenya Personalities. It also includes former Tanzanian President
National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process Benjamin Mkapa and Graça Machel, former first lady of
Project? South Africa and Mozambique.
Continuing the Gains from the Kenya National Dialogue
and Reconciliation Process is a grant to continue the The grant supports regular political dialogue between the
technical assistance to the African Union Panel of Government of Kenya and the panel of eminent African
Eminent Personalities as they assist the Government of personalities. It supports the Civil Society Organizations
Kenya in the implementation of the reform agenda items to monitoring the Government’s performance in regard
agreed upon in the aftermath of the post- to implementation of the key reforms. The grant also
election violence in 2008. The Government of Kenya supports advisors to the Government on implementation
Kenya launched its National Dialogue and Reconciliation of the reforms.
process on January 28, 2008. The Panel of Eminent
African Personalities provided mediation support to the How is the Continuing the Gains from the Kenya
process, in order to resolve the 2008 political crisis and National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process
address the underlying political and governance weakness. Project making a difference?
A national survey conducted in December 2012 showed
that progress in preparedness for the March 2013
General Election had been made in various areas and
institutions. In contrast to the period after the post-
Kofi Annan, chairman of the Panel of Eminent African election violence in 2008 when people had lost
Personalities, meets with Isaak Hassan, chairman of confidence in key institutions, transformation of key
Photo: Kofi Annan Foundation
Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries
institutions after the promulgation of the new
Commission to review preparations for Kenya’s March
2013 general elections. Photo credit: Kofi Annan
Constitution is gradually rekindling public trust in them.
Foundation Kenyans were generally optimistic that the country was
prepared for the elections. People have relatively
increased confidence in the institutions that will be
Project Duration and Budget superintending over the elections. Many laws have been
January 2012 – September 2013 passed and institutions transformed. People are also
$350,000 optimistic that the country will hold free and fair
elections. It is significant that the Judiciary has continued
Who implements the Continuing the Gains from to enjoy increased public confidence.
the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation
Process Project? What key challenges does the Continuing the
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Gains from the Kenya National Dialogue and
Reconciliation Process Project face?
Where does the Continuing the Gains from the The coalition government agreed on a number of reforms
Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation including youth employment, land reforms, equitable
Process Project work? development of various regions and constitutional
Nationally reforms. Implementing these reforms in the manner
envisioned and within the time frame while preparing for
What does the Continuing the Gains from the 2013 elections resulted in delays in undertaking the
Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation reforms.
Process Project do?
The goal of the Kenya National Dialogue and
Reconciliation is to promote sustainable peace, stability,
and justice in Kenya through the rule of law and respect
for human rights. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General
of the United Nations leads the Panel of Eminent African
For more information:
John Smith-Sreen, Director
Office of Democracy, Rights and Governance
USAID/Kenya
Tel: +254 (0)20 862 2000
E-mail: Jsmith-sreen@usaid.gov
Sheila Karani, Project Manager
USAID/Kenya
Democracy, Human Rights and Governance
Tel: +254 20 862 2000
Email: skarani@usaid.gov
Patrick Fruchet, Operations Center, Director
UNOPS
AU Building, Museum Hill
Next to CFC Bank
Tel: +254 20 762 1613
Email: PatrickF@unops.org
Updated March 2013
