Following the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007, the Government set out...

Following the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007, the Government set out an ambitious plan to put in place a new Constitution and build and strengthen institutions of governance that would be accountable to and responsive to the needs of its citizens. In clear recognition that all human development and human rights issues, including peace and security, have gender dimensions, Kenya has made great advances in mainstreaming gender in its institutions of governance. Indeed, arguably, such advances have not been made by any country in such a short period of time and during peacetime.

The judiciary is now fiercely independent; the investigation and prosecution branches have been revamped. A new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has been established to better manage elections. Other institutions, such as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, have also been established and are currently monitoring the pace and quality of reforms, including the enactment of necessary legislation to avert any recurrence of events similar to those of 2007.