THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY IN MAINTAING POLITICAL STABILITY; A CASE OF KENYA 2000-2014

Abstract

The European Union (EU) identifies five principles at the core of good governance. These are legitimacy and voice, direction, performance, accountability and fairness. But according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), good governance includes the following principles: participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus building, equity, effectiveness and efficiency, decentralization, accountability, and strategic vision. Political stability, therefore, involves the creation of effective partnership to ensure that political, social and economic priorities rest on broad consensus in society and ensures that the voices of the poor and most vulnerable are heard in the decision-making process. The main aim of the study was to examine the role of parliamentary diplomacy in maintaining political stability in Kenya. It was guided by the following objectives: To determine the extent to which parliament legislative roles affect political stability, to evaluate the extent to which plenary sessions dealing with foreign policy ensure political stability, and to evaluate the extent to which Kenyan Parliament control of election monitory process ensure political stability. Research Hypothesis included: Parliament legislative roles have no significant effect to political stability; plenary sessions dealing with foreign policy have no significant to political stability and Kenyan Parliament control of election monitory process have no significant political stability. This study was underpinned by the theory of institutional. The study relied on the following methods: an interview guide and document analysis of books, newspapers, journals, historical documents and speeches. This study was based in Nairobi. The found that The study concluded that today???s Parliament legislative roles have no significant effect to political stability, Plenary sessions dealing with foreign policy have no significant to political stability and Kenyan Parliament control of election monitory process have no significant political stability. The study recommended that The government should enhance the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in terms of regular training and equipping them with the latest technology in order for the law enforcers to effectively handle political instability.