GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

THE EXECUTIVE

It consists of the President, the Deputy President and the rest of Cabinet.  The President is the Head of State and Government; he exercises the executive authority of the Republic with the assistance of the Deputy President and Cabinet Secretaries. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces and a symbol of national unity. The Deputy President is the principal assistant of the President, and shall deputise for the President in the execution of the President’s functions.

THE LEGISLATURE

It is the supreme law-making body that controls the financial appropriation of government departments, and examines government proposals with a view to improving them. It consists of the following: the National Assembly, which has 210 elected members - including the Head of State, each representing a constituency; twelve nominated members; and two ex-officio members, namely the Speaker, who is elected by the National Assembly to preside over its meetings, and the Attorney General, appointed by the President.

An Electoral Commission, consisting of a chairman and not less than four and not more than twenty-one members appointed by the President, is established by the constitution. The Commission, whose members enjoy security of tenure, is responsible for:

• The registration of voters, and the maintenance and revision of the voter registers;
• Directing and supervising the presidential, National Assembly and local government elections;
• Promoting voter education throughout Kenya; and
• Any other electoral functions the law may prescribe.

THE JUDICIARY

This is the body responsible for determining disputes and interpreting statutes. It is independent of both the Executive and the Legislature. The constitution provides for the establishment of the High Court as a superior court of record, having unlimited original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters; and the Court of Appeal as superior court of record, having jurisdiction and powers in relation to appeals from the High Court or as may be conferred on it by law. It also provides for the appointment of the Chief Justice, and judges of the court of appeal and the High Court. The constitution also establishes other courts subordinate to the High Court and the Judicial Service Commission, vested with the power to appoint and to exercise disciplinary control and the removal of judicial officers.

• For more information, check the 'links" section of the website.