Kenya Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form : Kenya
former: British East Africa

Data code KE

Government type republic

National capital Nairobi

Administrative divisions 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, NorthEastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Independence 12 December 1963 (from UK)

National holiday Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Constitution 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1992

Legal system based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial reviewin High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutionalamendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state : President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice PresidentGeorge SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989); note - the president is both the chiefof state and head of government
head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice PresidentGeorge SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989); note - the president is both the chiefof state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote from among the members of the NationalAssembly for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held by early 1998); vice president appointed by the president
election results : President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of vote - Daniel T.arap MOI 37%, Kenneth MATIBA (FORD-ASILI) 26%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 19%, OgingaODINGA (FORD-Kenya) 17%

Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (200 seats, 12 appointed by thepresident, 188 popularly elected members to serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held between 1 April 1997 and31 January 1998)
election results : percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KANU 100, FORD-Kenya31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller parties 3; president nominates 12 additionalmembers; note - as of 9 April 1996 seat distribution (among non-appointedseats) was: KANU 106, FORD-Kenya 32, FORD-Asili 22, DP 22, smaller parties and vacancies 6
note : first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in 1991

Judicial branch Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed by the president; High Court

Political parties and leaders
ruling party : Kenya African National Union or KANU [President Daniel Toroitich arapMOI]
opposition party: Forum for the Restoration of Democracy or FORD-Kenya [Michael WAMALWA];Forum for the Restoration of Democracy or FORD-Asili [Kenneth MATIBA]; DemocraticParty of Kenya or DP [Mwai KIBAKI]

Political pressure groups and leaders Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; unregistered SAFINA partywith which prominent naturalist Richard Leakey is associated; human rightsgroups; labor unions

International organization participation ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNU, UPU,WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
FAX : [1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission : Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL (17 July 1996)
embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (2) 334141
FAX : [254] (2) 340838

Flag description three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the redband is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears issuperimposed at the center

NOTE: The information regarding Kenya on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Kenya Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Kenya Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.