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North Eastern Province (Kenya)
North Eastern is one of Kenya's administrative provinces. The province servicing capital is the town of
Garissa. The overall population is 962,143 (in 1999) and its land area is 126,902 Km².
Formerly known as the Northern Frontier District, the province covers most of northeastern Kenya and is
inhabited by pastoralist communities. The prominent ethnic group is Somali people. There are many large
refugee camps in the area, with most refugees from Somalia.
Politics of Kenya takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby
the President of Kenya is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party
system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the
government and the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Since independence, Kenya has maintained remarkable stability despite changes in its political system
and crises in neighboring countries. Particularly since the re-emergence of multiparty democracy, Kenyans
have enjoyed an increased degree of freedom.
A cross-party parliamentary reform initiative in the fall of 1997 revised some oppressive laws inherited
from the colonial era that had been used to limit freedom of speech and assembly. This improved public
freedoms and contributed to generally credible national elections in December 1997.
In December 2002, Kenyans held democratic and open elections, which were judged free and fair by
international observers. The 2002 elections marked an important turning point in Kenya’s democratic
evolution in that power was transferred peacefully from the single party that had ruled the country since
independence to a new coalition of parties
Under the presidency of Mwai Kibaki, the new ruling coalition promised to focus its efforts on generating
economic growth, combating corruption, improving education, and rewriting its constitution. These
promises have only been partially met, however, as the new government has been preoccupied with
internal wrangling and power disputes. In November 2005, the Kenyan electorate resoundingly defeated
a new draft constitution supported by Parliament and President Kibaki. Kibaki responded by dismissing
his entire cabinet. Kibaki eventually appointed a new slate of ministers, many of whom belong to political
parties with which he is allied.
In early 2006, revelations from investigative reports of two major government-linked corruption scandals
rocked Kenya and led to resignations, including three ministers. A March 2 media crackdown on the
Standard conducted by masked Kenyan police was internationally condemned and was met with outrage
by Kenya media and civil society.The matter is still pending in kenyan courts following a government
position that the issue was related to state security and was therefore conducted within the parameters
of the Kenyan consitution under Preservation of a Public security Act.
North Eastern is one of Kenya's administrative provinces. The province servicing capital is the town of
Garissa. The overall population is 962,143 (in 1999) and its land area is 126,902 Km².
Formerly known as the Northern Frontier District, the province covers most of northeastern Kenya and is
inhabited by pastoralist communities. The prominent ethnic group is Somali people. There are many large
refugee camps in the area, with most refugees from Somalia.
Politics of Kenya takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby
the President of Kenya is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party
system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the
government and the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Since independence, Kenya has maintained remarkable stability despite changes in its political system
and crises in neighboring countries. Particularly since the re-emergence of multiparty democracy, Kenyans
have enjoyed an increased degree of freedom.
A cross-party parliamentary reform initiative in the fall of 1997 revised some oppressive laws inherited
from the colonial era that had been used to limit freedom of speech and assembly. This improved public
freedoms and contributed to generally credible national elections in December 1997.
In December 2002, Kenyans held democratic and open elections, which were judged free and fair by
international observers. The 2002 elections marked an important turning point in Kenya’s democratic
evolution in that power was transferred peacefully from the single party that had ruled the country since
independence to a new coalition of parties
Under the presidency of Mwai Kibaki, the new ruling coalition promised to focus its efforts on generating
economic growth, combating corruption, improving education, and rewriting its constitution. These
promises have only been partially met, however, as the new government has been preoccupied with
internal wrangling and power disputes. In November 2005, the Kenyan electorate resoundingly defeated
a new draft constitution supported by Parliament and President Kibaki. Kibaki responded by dismissing
his entire cabinet. Kibaki eventually appointed a new slate of ministers, many of whom belong to political
parties with which he is allied.
In early 2006, revelations from investigative reports of two major government-linked corruption scandals
rocked Kenya and led to resignations, including three ministers. A March 2 media crackdown on the
Standard conducted by masked Kenyan police was internationally condemned and was met with outrage
by Kenya media and civil society.The matter is still pending in kenyan courts following a government
position that the issue was related to state security and was therefore conducted within the parameters
of the Kenyan consitution under Preservation of a Public security Act.
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