The role of international non-governmental organisations in the promotion of the rule of law in Kenya

Abstract

The study examines the contributions made by International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) in the promotion of the rule of law in Kenya and it focuses on four organizations namely, Amnesty International, International Commission of Justice, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the National Democratic Institute. A descriptive research design was used and stratified random sampling was used using the proportionate allocation method. The researcher has reviewed the relevant literature ors the subject of the four International Non-Governmental Organizations their role on the promotion of the rule or law and the strategies they have used.

The researcher will critique the past studies on the rule of law and identified gaps in the literature for possible future research. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information, and the data collected was interpreted and critically analyzed. The study draws its theoretical framework from the concept of transnational theory proposed by Nye and Keohane as a guide to its analysis. Relations between states, international organizations and non-governmental organizations have changed and this has put into question the usual theories in International Relations. A transnational relation is the interaction between a state and at least one actor who is not an agent of the state. In this study, the nature of interaction is transnational for it involves a state, Kenya, and non-state actors like the ICJ, Amnesty International, KAS and NDI.

The study has established that contributions have been made under the following thematic areas: Legal reforms (judicial reforms, electoral reforms, police reforms); human rights, access to justice, transparency and accountability, increasing citizen empowerment, democracy and good governance, fight against impunity and devolution. All these thematic areas are interlinked for they are dependent on each other and are all covered in the constitution. The study recommends that the government collaborates more with the INGOs by putting in place measures that ensure that the environment is conducive for the NGOs to carry out their mandates in the country and to speedily implement the propositions made by task forces on the various reforms in the country.