Country Profile

Kenya has undergone a significant political and governance transformation over the last five years. New measures to encourage a more stable and democratic system have been ushered in, changing the way Kenyans are governed and how the different layers of administration interact. These structural alterations are good news for the country, although there are still challenges as it looks to maintain its growth and stability moving forward. As the country reaches the middle of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s first term, his administration faces a number of hurdles. Building faith in the political system, improving the security situation and dealing with corruption will occupy much of its time. These are difficult, long-standing issues, but the country is beginning to face them. If they can be overcome, Kenya will be well placed to ensure sustained economic growth and stability.

This chapter contains interviews with President Uhuru Kenyatta, Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces; and Richard Sezibera, Secretary General, East African Community; and a viewpoint from Barack Obama, President of the US.