Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Daniel Toroitich
arap MOI (since 14 October 1978) elected for a five-year term from
the National Assembly by direct popular vote; election last held 29
December 1992 (next to be held by early 1998); results - President
Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected with 37% of the vote; Kenneth
MATIBA (FORD-ASILI) 26%; Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 19%, Oginga ODINGA
(FORD-Kenya) 17%; Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Bunge): election last held 29 December 1992 (next
to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (188
total) KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller
parties 3; president nominates 12 additional members; note - as of 9
April 1996 seat distribution was: KANU 106, FORD-Kenya 32,
FORD-Asili 22, DP 22, smaller parties and vacancies 6
note: first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law
in 1991
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; High Court
Political parties and leaders: ruling party is Kenya African
National Union (KANU), President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI;
opposition parties include Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
(FORD-Kenya), Michael WAMALWA; Forum for the Restoration of
Democracy (FORD-Asili), Kenneth MATIBA; Democratic Party of Kenya
(DP), Mwai KIBAKI
Other political or pressure groups: labor unions; Roman Catholic
Church; unregistered SAFINA party with which prominent naturalist
Richard Leakey is associated
International organization participation: ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia E. BRAZEAL
embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (2) 334141
FAX: [254] (2) 340838