Kenya

What form of government is used in Kenya?

Is Kenya a true republic? What were some major historical events

in the 20th/21st century Kenya?

Kenya’s main government facilities are located in the country’s capital, Nairobi.

Kenya’s government is officially a Presidential Representative

Democratic Republic.

Republic?

Kenya is a not a true republic, because almost all of its elections have been corrupt and its citizens

have not always had a choice in who to elect as their leader.

Kenya’s Executive Branch

Mwai Kibaki is the current President of Kenya. He is both the head of the government and chief

of state.

Kenya’s Legislative Branch

Kenya’s legislative branch is called the National Assembly or the

Bunge.

The President and the National Assembly are responsible for

making the nation’s laws.

Kenya’s Judicial Branch

Kenya’s judicial branch is called the High Court. It is independent of both the

legislative and executive branch.

Other facts about Kenya’s government

Almost all of Kenya’s presidential elections have been marred by

corruption.

In 2002, Kenya held its first open and free elections since 1964.

20th and 21st Century Kenyan History

Kenya was a colony of the British Empire from 1890 to 1963.

Kenya declared its independence in January of 1963.

Jomo Kenyatta was elected the first President of Kenya.

Jomo Kenyatta served as Kenya’s president until 1978.

Kenyatta’s government was corrupt and he banned all political

parties but his own, KANU.

He died in 1978.

Daniel arap Moi served as President of Kenya from 1978 to

2002.

President Moi’s government was also corrupt and he refused to relinquish power until he was

forced to in 2002.

Mwai Kibaki was elected in 2002 and again in 2007. The 2007 election is viewed by many

officials to have been corrupt.

This election resulted in violent uprisings and a new coalition

government.

Aside from political corruption, Kenya has faced numerous other

difficulties since it became a nation.

One of these problems was a drought that occurred in the

1970s that left thousands dead from famine and starvation.

Kenya has also fought border wars with Tanzania, Somalia, and

Uganda.

Kenya has also had to deal with ethnic conflict between its many ethnic groups.

Differences between these groups have led to numerous conflicts.

Kenya was also the site of a terrorist attack in 1998.

Review Question #1

What European country colonized the country now known as Kenya?

The British

Review Question #2

What type of government system is found in Kenya?

Kenya is a Presidential Representative Democratic

Republic

Review Question #3

Does Kenya meet the requirements to be called a true republic? Explain your answer.

No. Kenya does not meet the requirements of being called a true

republic. The main reason it is not a republic is because the majority of its

elections have been corrupt and its citizens have not always had a choice in

who leads them.

Review Question #4

What is the name of Kenya’s capital and location of its

government?

Nairobi

Review Question #5

True or False: There are only three ethnic groups living in

Kenya.

False: Kenya is home to numerous ethnic groups.