The 2024 McCain Global Leaders will travel to Kenya for a week of in-depth exploration of the young African democracy, examining its developments and the ongoing challenges it faces. Kenya’s gradual expansion of freedoms and unique economic positioning serve as a case study with elements and issues relevant to countries and leaders across the developing world.
After almost 70 years of British rule, Kenya gained its independence on December 12, 1963, with Jomo Kenyatta becoming Kenya’s first prime minister. A year later, Kenya reorganized into a republic, with Kenyatta serving as president. However, the road to the modern Kenyan democracy of today would not be a smooth one. Vice President Daniel Arap Moi succeeded Kenyatta following his death in 1978 and would serve as president until 2002. The Moi era was one marred by human rights abuses, overt corruption, and brutal suppression of political opponents. Moi’s power enjoyed the security of a one-party state after the National Assembly amended the Kenyan constitution in 1982. However, change began to take root in late 1991, when the Kenyan Parliament annulled the one-party section of their constitution and restored multiparty elections in 1992. Yet, due to a lack of unity among opposition parties, it wasn’t until 2002 that the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) would be formed, and its candidate, Mwai Kibaki, would defeat Moi and his KANU party. Unfortunately, the country would suffer further turmoil and violence following the results of the 2007 election. What followed was The National Accord and Reconciliation Act of 2008, which, in the spirit of cooperation, temporarily re-established the role of prime minister in Kenya, as well as two deputy prime ministers to serve alongside the president in the coalition. The government structure of Kenya we know today came about in 2010 when Kenya promulgated a new constitution. Under the modern constitution, the Kenyan government is “much like the American system,” with a presidential executive branch, a bicameral legislature consisting of a senate and a national assembly, a supreme court, and a broader bill of rights.
The trajectory of Kenya’s institutional change certainly has been positive, yet in practice, there is still much to be done. In 2024, Kenya had a “partly free status” with a score of 52 on Freedom House’s Freedom in the World Survey, with “pervasive corruption and brutality by security forces” being the primary issue. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Index, Kenya ranks 126 out of 180 countries, with a score of 31. While this is far from ideal, it is important to note since 2014, Kenya’s score has generally been trending upwards. Recent developments in the country highlight its current situation and some of these prevailing issues. Kenya is a young country, with 80% of the population being 35 or younger. Last year’s summer protests demonstrated how this new generation of young Kenyans will make their voices heard and aren’t willing to stand for the same kind of corruption any longer. Yet on the other side, responses to these protests are a prime example of the kind of brutality that Freedom House underscored in their report.
Major actors in the international community are heavily involved in the development of Kenyan democracy. The World Bank works closely with the Kenyan government to increase economic prosperity and quality of life for citizens, following a bottom-up model. USAID has programs that are directly targeted toward building partnerships with and among Kenyans to promote transformational change in key governance systems and processes. However, with President Trump’s executive order freezing all foreign aid for 90 days, the future of these programs is uncertain.
In the current era of great power competition between the United States and China, Kenya is well-positioned to benefit and continue to grow as the largest economy in East Africa. Kenya boasts a robust, diverse economy that is heavily globalized, with their total merchandise trade volume in 2020 amounting to 21% of GDP. Kenya’s largest trading partner is China, with the United States being its fifth. As these two great powers continue to decouple, both will be looking for new partners and look to strengthen bonds with existing ones, as evidenced by previous talks of a U.S.-Kenya Free Trade Agreement. However, with President Trump’s tariff-heavy policy, this future is also uncertain. If Kenya can navigate the shifting trade world, it could take advantage of the situation to develop itself as a new trade hub on the African continent.
The world’s eye is on Kenya’s vast potential, waiting to see if this new generation will lift their country to new heights, or if old problems will continue to weigh them down. The McCain Global Leaders will have the opportunity to learn firsthand from the Kenyan experience and example of democracy. The global leaders will meet with NGOs working to safeguard democracy, human rights, and freedom including the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association, and the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association. Additionally, experts such as Kevin Mwachiro, co-founder of East Africa’s first LGBTQ+ film festival, will present on their unique experiences working to build a more inclusive Kenyan society. The MGLs will also have the opportunity to meet with senior officials in the Republic of Kenya’s government such as Monica Juma, Kenya’s first-ever National Security Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kenya. Lastly the global leaders will be immersed in Kenyan culture through various site visits. These include a visit to Kazuri Beads, a women-owned business working to empower the community by providing employment opportunities to women in marginalized communities, and a visit to Maasai Mbili, an innovative artist collective which is committed to social justice and the promotion of education, particularly in relation to disadvantaged communities and youth. The tour will offer the leaders an insight into the country’s democratic process, the role civil society organizations play in stable governance, and the strategies necessary to safeguard human rights and freedom, better equipping them to support and strengthen these areas in the region and their home countries.