New EU partnership to strengthen political participation and inclusion in Kenya
DIPD is part of a new partnership which aims to create better inclusion and participation of women, children, and people with disabilities in political parties in Kenya.
Kenya is a pioneering country when it comes to democracy in East Africa and despite a few crises it has maintained a formal democratic system since its independence almost 60 years ago. DIPD has supported democratic developments in Kenya, through a partnership with the Centre for Multiparty Democracy, CMD-Kenya.
The project: "Strengthening Inclusive and Democratic Political Actors in Kenya (SIDPAK)" is co-funded by the European Union.
The EU partnership is led by the Dutch sister organisation, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Dialogue, NIMD, with DIPD and the Norwegian democracy organisation, The Oslo Center. The organisations have partnered with two national Kenyan partners, Mzalendo Trust and the Centre for Multiparty Democracy, CMD-Kenya are both organisations, which are working to strengthen democracy in the country.
"In working towards achieving a free, peaceful and inclusive society, it is crucial that democracy is developed and supported. We are happy to be able to support a solid partner in Kenya and thereby support the country in its democratic development.” says Lisbeth Pilegaard, Executive Director of DIPD.
Democracy boot camps for newly elected politicians
In 2010, Kenya implemented a constitution, to support women, youth, and persons with disabilities to better participate in parties and political life as such. There is still some way to go before the parties in the country live up to the constitution's goal of strengthening political inclusion.
Therefore, the new EU partnership will support the political parties to become more inclusive by providing experience and competence for the management of the parties and their operations. Furthermore, it will support the capability to select and train civil servants, and candidates for the parties.
DIPD will organize democracy boot camps where newly elected women, youth, and persons with disabilities receive media training and capacity building. Boot camps will also provide the newly elected with a political network across parties.
The partnership builds on DIPD's existing multi-party engagement in Kenya in collaboration with Venstre and their Danish Liberal Democracy Programme, DLDP. An engagement which has resulted in several young people achieving influential positions in their political parties.
