Kenya

Canada's Commitment
Results
Country Profile

Canada's Commitment

Since 1961, Canada has been actively supporting Kenya's development in the areas of governance, primary education, gender equality, and HIV/AIDS prevention. The Kenyan government's unprecedented abolition of primary school fees in 2003 brought about significant improvements in primary education. More and more, Kenyans calling for social and institutional reforms are being heard by the government.

CIDA is committed to Kenya's development priorities of good governance, primary education, gender equality and HIV/AIDS prevention, as identified in the country's Poverty Reduction Strategy (2003-2007). These priorities are consistent with the goals in the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the Millennium Development Goals.

Besides bilateral or country-to-country assistance, Canada provides support to Kenya through voluntary and private sector partnerships and multilateral initiatives.

---

Results

Here is a sampling of the Kenya Program results:

Basic Education

• In the first year of Kenya's education program, supported by CIDA and other donors, 1.8 million additional children were streamed into primary schools.
• Between 2003 and 2006, Canadian and other donor contributions helped provide an additional nine million textbooks in Kenyan schools, which has reduced the pupil-to-textbook ratio in primary schools from 15:1 to 3:1.
• Canada contributed to building sustainable capacity among teachers, in order to deal with the huge influx of students and to nurture a gender-equitable teaching and learning environment.

---

Country Profile

Kenya faces numerous development challenges, including poverty, HIV/AIDS, and governance. Currently life expectancy is 47.5 years, and 62.3 percent of the population live on less than two dollars a day. Nevertheless, Kenya has significant potential to improve its economic, social, and political development, and be a positive influence in the East African region.

The country has a fairly diversified economy with strong agriculture and tourism sectors, a strong and free press, and a vocal population unafraid to demand for change. Moreover, Kenya is playing a leading role in regional peace processes.

General elections in December 2002 marked the first change in government in 24 years. The National Rainbow Coalition was easily elected on their platform of fighting corruption and improving Kenyans' social conditions. While poor management, corruption, and a complex political situation have all contributed to impeding economic growth, the economy has begun to experience broad based recovery.

Persistent popular pressure has resulted in new institutional and legislative reforms to address corruption. Unfortunately, continued allegations of high-level government corruption have marred the government's credibility on its commitment to good governance. Despite political tensions, Kenya continues to progress, albeit slowly, towards an environment increasingly intolerant of corruption.

---

PDF Format

Note: to read the PDF version you need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your system. If the Adobe download site is not accessible to you, you can download Acrobat Reader from an accessible page. If you choose not to use Acrobat Reader you can have the PDF file converted to HTML or ASCII text by using one of the conversion services offered by Adobe.

Poverty Reduction Strategy (2003-2007) (1.3 MB, 152 pages)