Foreign Influence on Domestic Policy: Case Study of Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to determine forms of foreign influence on domestic welfare. It purposed to establish ways in which foreign countries use their economic, social or political power to dictate or impose economic, social and political restrictions on an economy. The study used secondary data from journals and online publications in the library such as Jstor and Ebhost. The study also used government working papers, articles done by scholars and reports given by the NGOs. The study found that the channels used by the foreign governments to influence Kenyan Domestic Policy is through political stability like the 2008 post elections violence that made the country seek mediations from tern of Eminent African Personalities chaired by Honorable Kofi Annan saw the country become a subject to other countries in and out of the region. The other channel is through the military influence where the military funding's is made majorly from the western countries and the need of foreign military help Kenya keep its boarders like the coast lines that is at risk of pirates. The final channels are through economic matters that are done through heavy borrowing that make Kenya be indebted to other foreign countries. The study has indicated that foreign influence has various effects on the domestic policy through human rights that receive funding's, political democratization like the multiparty system adopted in 1991 and the power sharing deal through the national accord in 2008. Foreign influence has also made western countries achieve their investment agenda as Kenya is their preferred trade partner due to the good infrastructural development and business environment. Finally, the report then gives recommendations on ways to mitigate foreign influence on domestic policy to be: diversification of trade partners such as shift from western countries to Middle East and Asia. The Kenyan government should discourage imports and promote the interdependence on the infant industries and the government to develop funding criteria to countries budget with the bulk on the countries taxes.