Country correspondent: Kithure Kindiki. LLB (Hons) (Moi), LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) (Pretoria), Dip. Law (KSL), LLD (Pretoria); Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Moi University, Kenya. This is an updated version of an earlier contribution by Kivutha Kibwana.

(1) BASIC FACTS

Independence,: 12 December 1963, former British colony Leader: , born 1924, president since 1978 Capital: (main international airport) Other major city: (main seaport, international airport) Area: 582 646 km2 Population: 31, 8 mn (1997) Population growth: 2,9% Urbanisation: 28% (1995) Languages: English and Swahili (both official), Gikuyu, Kalenjin, Kamba, Luhya, Luo, Somali, Oromo HDI rank: 123 (1999) Life expectancy at birth: 51 years (1999) Adult literacy rate: 82% (1999) Gross enrolment ratio (all educational levels): 51 % (1999) GNP: $7.6 bn GNP/capita: $280 (1995) GDP (average annual growth rate): 1,4% ( 1990-95) Foreign debt: $7 381 mn (1995); as % of GNP: 94% Development, aids $677 mn (1995); as % of GNP: 1 1% Currency: Shilling (KSH)

Comments: Tourism is the largest foreign currency earner in a comparatively prosperous country. The agricultural sector produces the principal exports (tea, coffee and horticultural products) in a country poorly endowed with minerals. While increasing cash crop production by peasant farmers is an encouraging feature of the Kenyan economy, the shortage of arable land and a population growing at the rapid rate of 2,9% are constraining factors. President Moi was at the end of 1991 persuaded by his own party (KANU) to restore the multi-party system. Among the largest opposition parties formed was the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), which split into two opposing factions, FORD-ASILI and FORD-Kenya. This enabled Moi to be returned to office, having gained 36% of the vote in the presidential election on 29 December 1992. In the National Assembly election, which took place at the same time, the ruling KANU won 100 of the 188 seats. President Moi and the Kanu ruling party were re-elected in December 1997. Some 250 people were killed and more than 5 000 injured when, in August 1998, a car bomb exploded at the US Embassy in Nairobi. Subsequent investigations revealed that Kenyan Muslims had been trained in terrorism by international Islamic subversive organisations, including a group led by Osama Bin Laden.

(2) COUNTRY REPORT

Historical background

1895: A British protectorate was declared over much of what is now Kenya. This was the official beginning of British colonial rule. 1897: The East African Order in Council was promulgated. It dealt mainly with judicial matters and applied exclusively to "natives".

1920: The status of Kenya changed from a protectorate to a colony.

1922: The movement of African nationalism began to take form in the East African Association under .

1943: After the disbanding of the Kikuyu Central Association, the (KAU) was formed. By 1951 KAU was demanding independence from the British.

1952: The failure of colonial British governors to accommodate demands by Africans, inter alia in respect of allocation of land to European settlers, was partly responsible for the outbreak of the Mau Mau war of independence. A state of emergency was declared. On 20 October leading Kenyan nationalists, among them , , and , were arrested and charged with managing the Mau Mau, a proscribed movement.

1954: The Lyttleton Constitution was promulgated. It was named after the Colonial Secretary. It recommended the participation of all races (though not on equal basis) in governance.

1958: The Lennox-Boyd Constitution was introduced. It provided for the increase of African representation in the Legislative Council (LEGCO) to equal the number of Europeans.

1960: KAU transformed itself into the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and took the lead in the fight for independence. The first Lancaster House Constitutional Conference was held. Among the main items in discussion was the extension of franchise on the principle of "one man one vote". African representatives demanded full democracy and independence.

1962: The second Lancaster House Constitutional Conference was held. The issue of Kenya's independence was first on the agenda with due cognisance of developments in neighbouring Uganda and Tanganyika (now the United Republic of Tanzania).

1963: In May general elections were held on the principle of universal adult suffrage. KANU won a landslide majority. On 1 June Kenya attained internal self-government with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta as Prime Minister. On 12 December Kenya attained full independence. The Independence Constitution, drawing from the Lancaster House conferences, had a Bill of Rights.

1964: Kenya became a republic and Kenyatta became President.

1963 - 68: A threat to secede by Kenyan Somalis led to protracted civil strife which left many dead. Citizens were massacred in the North Eastern Province under the pretext of flushing out the "Shifta" forces of the Somali rebellion. The affected area was sealed off as an emergency zone. Infamous emergency laws were to apply till July 1992, when the relevant section of the Constitution was repealed.

1975: The Hon JM Kariuki, Member of Parliament for Nyandarua North, was murdered. A Parliamentary select committee looking into the circumstances of his death implicated the government, but its report was not adopted.

1978: Kenyatta passed on and was peacefully succeeded by his deputy, Daniel Arap Moi.