Kenya Transition Initiative Quarterly Report January – March 2011

The program's goal is to support stability with unity in Kenya by contributing to a politically modern Kenya, centered on national identity rather than ethnicity. KTI centers on a two-pronged effort supporting institutional and grassroots reforms outlined in the February 2008 National Accord, including a constitutional review, youth employment, police reform, and land reform. The program has been implemented by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) under a task order that will close in May 2011. Chemonics will continue to implement KTI through May 2013. Chemonics initiated operations in Kenya in January 2011. The current political situation in Kenya is characterized by realignments, with the rebel wing of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) moving closer to the Party of National Unity (PNU) camp. This realignment has been evidenced in joint political rallies held by suspended Minister for Higher Education William Ruto and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued summonses to six Kenyan suspects, including Ruto and Kenyatta, in relation to crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the 2007-2008 post-election violence. The Kenyan government has engaged in a widely publicized "shuttle diplomacy" campaign seeking a one-year deferral of these ICC cases. However, efforts to lobby the international community in favor of deferral have met with criticism from ODM actors within the coalition government and Kenyan civil society groups. Implementation of the new Constitution is behind schedule by six months, according to Kenya's Minister of Justice Mutula Kilonzo. A political dispute over President Kibaki's nominees for key political appointments was finally brought to an end on February 22, when Kibaki withdrew the names. The Constitution Implementation Commission, Law Society of Kenya, courts of law, civil society, and the international community were unanimous in expressing their views that the President's unilateral nominations violated the Constitution. The recent release of Wikileaks cables has continued to be headline news in Kenyan national media. The contents of the cables discuss pressure the U.S. government exerted on Kenya to sign the Article 98 agreement not to hand over to the ICC any U.S. citizen sought for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, mass murder, or other crimes of that nature. Kenyan media outlets have also reported on leaked cables that highlight the U.S. Embassy's intention to continue to support youth activism despite Kenyan government displeasure. The humanitarian situation in Kenya remains a concern, with 2.4 million people highly and moderately food insecure and unable to meet a significant proportion of their food needs. Some parts of the north east of the country have already slipped into an acute food and livelihood crisis. The situation is likely to worsen further in the coming months with the Meteorological Department warning of "below normal rainfall" during the 'long rains' season. Security tensions have increased recently along the Kenya-Somali border, with a renewed threat from Al-Shabaab to attack targets in Kenya. Security in Nairobi has increased in some public places, and officials have issued warnings to exert extra caution.