Mise en page 1 - OECD · Kisumu Machakos Nakuru Moyale Magadi Tsavo Malindi Voi Namanga Narok...

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Kenya Nairobi key figures Land area, thousands of km 2 580 • Population, thousands (2006) 35 106 • GDP per capita, $ PPP valuation (2006) 1 835 • Life expectancy (2006) 49.6 • Illiteracy rate (2006) 26.4

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Kenya

Nairobi

key figures• Land area, thousands of km2 580• Population, thousands (2006) 35 106• GDP per capita, $ PPP valuation (2006) 1 835• Life expectancy (2006) 49.6• Illiteracy rate (2006) 26.4

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Kenya

0 100 km

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town > l million inhabitants500 000 - 1 000 000100 000 - 500 000< 100 000

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IN 2005, THE KENYAN ECONOMY, with most sectorsrecording accelerated growth, sustained themomentumthat had started in 2003. Real Gross Domestic Product(GDP) grew by 5.8 per cent in 2005 compared with4.9 per cent in 2004, and it is estimated at 5 per centin 2006. This economic growth is expected to bemaintained in the medium term.

Despite the increase of government expendituresand the fiscal deficit of 2005/06, the overall fiscalsituation is favourable, as the government succeededin improving its revenue collection and in keeping thefiscal balance at a manageable level. The fiscal policyfor the medium term continues to seek increasedspending and revenue while containing the budgetdeficit at 3.5 per cent of GDP. In addition, public

expenditures are being restructured from recurrent todevelopment sectors (infrastructure, education, health,etc.) with the goal of attaining 7 to9 per cent of GDP on development-sector expenditure in themedium term.Controlling recurrent expenditure tofree up resources for increaseddevelopment expenditure should beachieved thanks to selected cuts, suchas in the civil-service wage bill, and better managementof public finances.

Monetary policy will continue to aim atmaintaininginflation below the official 5 per cent level and atpreserving stability in the foreign-exchange market.The monetary authority is on track in the area of

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n Kenya - GDP Per Capita (PPP in US $) n East Africa - GDP Per Capita (PPP in US $) n Africa - GDP Per Capita (PPP in US $)

——— Kenya - Real GDP Growth (%)

Per Capita GDP ($ PPP)

Figure 1 - Real GDP Growth and Per Capita GDP($ PPP at current prices)

Source: IMF and National Institute of Statistics data; estimates (e) and projections (p) based on authors’ calculations.

Governance problemspersist but reforms arebeginning to take holdand the developmentof the private sectoris on course.

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containing inflationary pressures, although the inflationrate was quite high in 2006, driven basically by foodand energy prices. Inflation is expected to ease towards

the targets in 2007 and 2008. Interest rates were fairly– and unusually – stable in 2005/2006.

The Kenyan government has sustained its emphasison development of the private sector and has takenimportant measures to enhance the investmentenvironment for private-sector activities.Thesemeasuresinclude improving infrastructure – such as the roadnetwork (which is still a key challenge), the ports, andrail transport – providing reliable and affordable energy,and developing information and telecommunicationsinfrastructure. The government has also strengthenedthe financial sector, improved public expenditure andfinancial management, and privatised state-ownedenterprises to enhance Kenya’s external competitivenessand reduce pressures on the budget. In addition, it haseased the legal, regulatory and institutional constraintsthat affected the private sector adversely and delayedthe privatisation process.

Constitutional and legal reforms as well asdeepening macroeconomic and structural reforms areconsidered key pillars for attaining the goals of “KenyaVision 2030” to transform the country into a medium-income country within 25 years. Although theauthorities have increased the democratic spacesignificantly since 2002, governance issues are stillhampered by the corruption and political manipulationallowed by inadequacies in the legal framework tofight corruption at high levels in the system. Thiscontinues to affect the image of the governmentamongst development partners, and if it is notcontained, it could slow down the pace of economicdevelopment that the country has recently realised.

Recent Economic Developments

Kenya had 5 per cent GDP growth in 2006,compared to 5.8 per cent in 2005, continuing thebuoyant growth that had begun in 2003. The keysectors driving this growthwere agriculture, constructionand building, manufacturing, tourism, and transport

and communications. Overall, the economy withstoodthe impact of higher oil prices rather well.

The economy-wide reform efforts currentlyunderway and the resulting stable macroeconomicenvironment are expected to generate sufficientmomentum for growth to be maintained at about thesame rate in both 2007 and 2008 (estimated at 5.3 and5.1 per cent, respectively).

The implementation of the Economic RecoveryStrategy forWealth and Employment Creation (ERS)will be completed by the end of 2007. In themeantime,the government intends to finalise Kenya Vision 2030,which will be the basis for further policy development.It will be based on three pillars – economic, social, andpolitical – and its ambitious goals are: to maintainsustained 10 per cent annual economic growth for thenext 25 years; to build a just and cohesive societyenjoying equitable social development in a clear andsecure environment; and to build an issue-based, people-centred, result-oriented and accountable democraticpolitical system.

The agricultural sector continues to play a dominantrole, contributing significantly to increasing foodsecurity, income generation, employment creation andindustrial development within the framework of theInvestment Programme for the ERS (IP-ERS). Thesector accounted for 25 per cent of GDP in 2005 andgrew at an annual rate of less than 6 per cent in 2006compared with 6.8 per cent in 2005. This growth wasdriven by improved performance in cereals, horticultureand dairy sub-sectors thanks to adequate rainfall in2005 and 2006, a performance all the more impressiveever though a drought affected the livestock sub-sectorin some parts of country in 2005.

A number of structural reforms have beenimplemented since 2003, aimed at improving efficiencyand productivity in the coffee, pyrethrum and sugar,and co-operative sub-sectors.

These sector reforms include the review andharmonisation of the legal, institutional and regulatoryframeworks.The share of budgetary resources allocated

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to the agriculture sector was projected to increasesharply from KES (Kenyan shillings) 18.6 billion(5.3 per cent of total resources) in 2005/06 toKES 33.5 billion (7.3 per cent of total resources) in2008/09.Other incentives initiated in 2006 to promoteproductivity in the agricultural sector include zero-rating of tractor tyres, agricultural tractors and semi-trailers for agricultural tractors, as well as transport ofunprocessed agricultural and agro-forest produce. Effortsare also being made to strengthen land managementand the land-tenure system, support fisheries, forestryand mining, and protect the environment and naturalresources.

In 2006, the production of major crops displayedmixed performance. Improved weather conditions inthe second half of 2006 moderated the adverse effectsof the drought experienced during the first quarter ofthe year. Tea production declined in 2006 by 16 percent. However, average tea auction prices increasedsubstantially by almost 40 per cent in 2006 as aconsequence of reduced supply and improved quality.Similarly, coffee output was almost at par withproduction in 2005 while the prices increased by11.2 per cent.

In the horticultural sector, flower productionimproved by 5.7 per cent, while fruit and vegetableproduction for export decreased by 2 per cent and1.5 per cent respectively in 2006. Export earnings fromthe sector registered marginal improvement. The2006/07 budget proposed tax measures to support thehorticultural sector and make its products morecompetitive by shifting the focus towards more fruit

production. The sugarcane and milk sub-sectors alsoregistered an improved performance in 2006.

The government has continued to take measuresto attain food security. However, these efforts havebeen undermined by frequent droughts and/or floods.The self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for maize rangedbetween 84 per cent and 106.3 per cent between 2000and 2005. The import-dependency ratio (IDR) forcereals has been on the decline, ranging from 19.5 percent to 31.5 per cent between 2000 and 2005.The IDRformaize has consistently stood below 20 per cent.Thismeans the country’s production of maize almost meetsdomestic demand.Maize production has been increasingas a result of the incentive of good prices offered tofarmers. It is estimated to have increased from 32millionbags in 2005 to more than 33 million bags in 2006.Most producer prices for the majority of agriculturalcommodities recorded a gradual increase during the year,supported by a revival of farmers’ institutions suchas the Kenya Co-operative Creameries or the KenyaMeat Commission.

The manufacturing sector continued to respondpositively to the reforms identified in the 2004-05 IP-ERS.The reforms include trade liberalisation, financialdeepening, facilitating the use of technology byimproving licensing procedures aimed at expandinggrowth and employment-generating capacity in thesector.The key growth targets for the sector for the IP-ERS period include: achieving an average growth rateof 8.6 per cent annually; increasing employment inmedium and small enterprises; and formalising theinformal micro- and small-enterprise (MSE) sector.

Other services

Government services

Transport and communications

Trade, hotels and restaurantsOther industry

Manufacturing

Agriculture

25.1%

13.5%

6.5%12.2%10.9%

4.5%

27.3%

Figure 2 - GDP by Sector in 2005 (percentage)

Source: Authors’ estimates based on National Institute of Statistics data.

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The manufacturing sector accounted for 14 percent of GDP in 2005, up from 9.9 per cent in 2004.In 2005, the sector recorded 5 per cent real growth

compared with 4.5 per cent in 2004 as a result ofincreased domestic, as well as external demand. Factorscontributing to growth in the sector included taxexemptions on some imports for intermediateconsumption in the 2006/07 budget and enforcementof anti-dumping measures within the East AfricanCommunity (EAC) and CommonMarket for Easternand Southern Africa (COMESA) regions. In 2005,however, output was constrained by increases inproduction costs subsequent to the rise in oil prices,appreciation of the Kenya shilling resulting in lowerexport earnings and poor infrastructure.

In 2006, output from the manufacturing sectorimproved thanks to increased output from key sub-sectors. In 2006, the production of beer and cigarettesincreased by 7.4 per cent and 21.3 per cent, respectively.

Consumption of electricity grew by 5.2 per cent in2006, in line with the increased level of economicactivity. The increase in supply to meet this demandreflected good water supply to hydroelectric dams andincreased generation from thermal sources.

The government took several measures to improvethe business environment and stimulate production

in the manufacturing sector. In the 2006/07 budget,it enhanced the tax incentives first introduced in2003/04, which included duty waivers on capital goods,

plants and equipment. In addition, 17 trading licenseswere removed in 2005/06, an additional 118 licensesweremarked to be eliminated in 2006/07, together withimport duties on selected intermediate inputs.

The tourism sector is a major component of theservice sector, which accounts for about 50 per cent ofGDP and has continued to exhibit rapid growth. Thisis due in part to measures taken by the government:to foster private-sector partnerships for the developmentand implementation of a co-ordinated strategy; toattract tourists from a wider range of countries; todiversify tourist attractions; to expand the benefits tothe local population; to protect the environment; andto improve quality and standards.

In 2006, combined tourism earnings frominternational and domestic sub-sectors grew by 20 percent comparedwith 24.7 per cent in 2005. Internationalarrivals increased to 1.7 million, up from 1.5 millionin 2005 and 1.4 million in 2004. In 2006, touristarrivals from all markets recorded improvements withsignificant increases from Asia, America and Europe of7.9 per cent, 14.8 per cent and 13.7 per cent,respectively. This growth is linked to an improvedmarketing of tourism in non-traditional markets like

Table 1 - Demand Composition (percentage of GDP)

Source: IMF and National Institute of Statistics data; estimates (e) and projections (p) based on authors’ calculations.

1998 2005 2006(e) 2007(p) 2008(p)

Percentage of GDP Percentage changes, volume(current prices)

Gross capital formationPublic 16.8 16.8 15.9 12.5 8.9Private 4.9 4.6 5.0 11.5 10.0

11.9 12.2 20.0 12.8 8.6Consumption

Public 90.0 93.9 4.8 3.9 4.4Private 16.5 17.1 3.8 4.1 4.2

73.5 76.8 5.0 3.9 4.4External sector

Exports -6.8 -10.7Imports 20.5 26.7 3.8 4.5 5.0

-27.3 -37.4 5.6 2.2 2.5

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China, India, Japan and the localmarket. Diversificationaway from traditional tourism products to new oneshas also helped improve performance and future

prospects in the sector.

The transport and communications sectoraccounted for 11 per cent of GDP in 2005, recordingreal growth of 8.3 per cent in the year and making itone of the fastest-growing sectors in the economy.Thisrapid expansion was maintained in 2006. In the road-transport sub-sector, new motor-vehicle registrationsincreased by 10 per cent in 2006. In the air-transportsub-sector, a combination of factors, including positiveknock-on effects from tourism, caused the incomingpassengers throughmajor border ports to rise by 7.5 percent in 2006, while outgoing passengers increased by6.2 per cent in the same period. Cargo through the portof Mombasa grew by 5 per cent in 2006. TheGovernment has prioritised expansion through theimprovement andmaintenance of the road network tosupport growth placed in the 2006/07 budget,improvement of the business climate and thecompetitiveness of Kenyan products.

Concessioning of the Kenya railways inNovember 2006 is expected to improve railwaytransport, which will facilitate faster movement ofcargo through the port of Mombasa. Other measuresbeing taken to improve port efficiency includeintroducing private-sector participation in container-terminal operations, dredging the channel toaccommodate larger vessels and introducing 24-hour operations. In 2006, further reforms were takento modernise and upgrade air transport at JomoKenyatta International Airport, and other airportsand airstrips. This is expected to increase the volumeof transit passengers with direct flights from NorthAmerica and Europe, improve general air safety,increase revenue flow and promote tourism.

The telecommunications sub-sector displayed strongperformance in 2006 with the number of mobilesubscribers estimated to have increased to more than7million, up from 5.6million in 2005.The impressivegrowth in airtime sales was driven by lower-denomination prepaid cards and expanded network

roll-out to rural areas along with aggressive marketing.Safaricom, a mobile provider in which the governmentis a shareholder, is one of the fastest-growing enterprises

in Kenya.

The balance sheet of the state-owned TelkomKenya, the fixed-line provider, is weak. However, theenterprise has recently put out new products andservices. Fixed-line connections increased by morethan 8 per cent in 2006 representing a 1 per centincrease in the penetration rate for this sector. Telkomhas boosted the performance of its existing networkby revamping the data-transfer technology known asAsymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), as wellas by introducing three different prepaid cards withdifferent tariffs and download speeds. A corporateVoice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) tariff and anInternet dial-up solution are also now offered amongstother products.

The building-and-construction sector realised realgrowth of 7.2 per cent in 2005, up from 4 per cent in2004, and continued to record rapid growth in 2006.Cement production, for example, increased by 6.1 percent in 2006. This was due in part to strong demandfor residential housing in urban areas supported byrelatively low and stable interest rates and remittancesfrom abroad. Other factors contributing to the sector’simproved performance are the revival of several stalledpublic-sector development projects and increasedbudgetary allocation for road construction andrehabilitation activities.

In collaboration with the government, internationalenterprises are undertaking oil exploration along thecoastal belt, which is divided into blocks held by severaloil enterprises. In 2006, equipment arrived inMombasafor prospective oil drilling off the Lamu Coast, wherean Australian drilling enterprise has estimated thatthere is a 12 per cent chance of striking oil.

The economy experienced several problems in2006.These included high oil prices, which increasedproduction and transport costs and led to anacceleration of consumer-price inflation, and severedrought that affected the livestock sub-sector adversely,

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especially in the arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) areasduring the first quarter of the year. Also, during thelast quarter of 2006, the country experienced massive

floods that displaced both people and livestock inareas prone to flooding, and destroyed roads andbridges in the affected parts of the country.The ravagingfloods in the North Eastern and parts of the Coastprovinces during the fourth quarter of 2006 led todeaths and infections associated with Rift Valley Fever,as well as the imposition of quarantine and a ban onthe slaughtering of livestock in the affected areas. Thiswas followed by immunisation campaigns targetingmainly domestic animals kept by the nomadiccommunities in these areas.

There was no major regional conflict affecting thecountry in 2006. The situation in Somalia, however,continued to affect the country through an influx ofrefugees, new cases of diseases such as polio, whichhad been eradicated, and an increase in the prevalenceof small firearms.

Macroeconomic Policies

In 2006, the government undertook the mid-termreview of the 2003-07 ERS to highlight the policyimplementations achieved from July 2003 to June2006.The review also made recommendations on keyareas of the economy that need to be addressed in theremaining period of ERS.

Fiscal Policy

Fiscal policy is guided by the Public ExpenditureReview (PER) and the medium-term expenditureframework (MTEF). These establish certain ceilings,ring fence core poverty programmes and imply a strongrevenue effort. The growth of total expenditures is tobe restrained and the composition of expenditureschanged to reduce the share of non-productive recurrentexpenditures and increase the share of operations-and-maintenance and capital expenditures. In addition, thedomestic debt is not to exceed a sustainable level. Themedium-term target for domestic debt is 20 per centof GDP.

The overall budget deficit in 2005/06 wasKES 55.2 billion, equivalent to 3.5 per cent of GDPon a commitment basis compared with a surplus of

KES 1 billion equivalent to 0.1 per cent of GDP in2004/05.This deficit mainly reflected the expansionaryfiscal policy pursued in 2005/06, which includes alarge increase in development spending. The fiscaldeficit is projected to decline to 1.4 per cent of GDPby the end of 2007/08.

In 2005/06, revenue collection and receipts fromexternal grants amounted to KES 327.8 billion, underthe target of KES 360.7 billion. The shortfall was duein part to problems with the implementation of a newcustoms computer system, which affected the collectionof customs duties. Nevertheless, revenue collection andreceipts of external grants increased by 7.6 per cent from2004/05 as a result of strong economic growth. Fiscalreceipts as a percentage of GDP rose from 23.8 in2003 to 24.2 in 2005.

The public-sector wage bill as a percentage of fiscalreceipts was 58.2 per cent in 2005, down from 59.9 percent in 2004. Efforts are being made to lower it furtherthrough the civil-service reform commission. Publicinvestment financed from domestic resources asa percentage of fiscal receipts improved significantly in2005, rising to 26.8 per cent from 17.3 per cent in2004. This improvement appears to have been due tothe operation of the Constituency Development Fund(CDF), a programmepromoting grassroots developmentacross the board.Differences between actual andbudgetedexpenditures narrowed in 2005/06 compared with2004/05, indicating improved budgetarymanagement.

Indirect and direct interventionmeasures have beenundertaken to counter the rise of oil prices. Onemeasurewas to publish the pump prices of various oil marketersin order to promote consumer awareness andcompetition. In addition, the state oil enterprise(National Oil Corporation) openedmore retail outletswith an aim to increase competition and thus maintainsome downward pressure on prices. However, thegovernment has wisely chosen to allow the increase ininternational oil prices to be fully passed through todomestic prices.

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Monetary Policy

Monetary policy is under the responsibility of theCentral Bank of Kenya (CBK). It seeks to maintain arate of inflation that does not exceed that of its tradingpartners, which was expected to be less than 5 per centin 2006/07. The measure of inflation, which includesfood and oil, rose from 11.9 per cent in June 2005 to14.6 per cent in November 2006, mainly as a result ofincreased prices of food and non-alcoholic drinks, andoil. However, the measure of underlying inflation,which excludes food and oil, declined from 8.2 percent in June 2005 to 4.4 per cent in November 2006.This measure of inflation remained stable in 2006.The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate isestimated at 14.48 per cent in 2006 but is projectedto decline considerably in 2007 and 2008 to stabiliseat 3.64 and 3.75 per cent, respectively.

In the year to September 2006, the broad moneysupply (M3) increased by 17.4 per cent compared with11.8 per cent in September 2005. In this period,currency outside the banking system increased by15.8 per cent from 5 per cent in August 2005, whichwas above the 12.1 per cent target.The net foreign assetsof the banking system expanded by 27.8 per cent inthe year to September 2006 compared with 34.7 percent in the year to September 2005, while net domesticassets expanded by 13.1 per cent in the twelve monthsto September 2006, compared with 4.6 per cent in

September 2005.This reflected increased credit to thegovernment by the banking system to financegovernment deficit. Meanwhile, the growth of creditto the private sector slowed for most of the period.

In August 2005, the government established aMonetary Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) witha mandate to advise the CBK onmonetary policy.TheMPACworked with the CBK to develop a frameworkfor the Central Bank Rate (CBR), which replaces the91-day Treasury Bill (TB) as benchmark rate and waslaunched inMay 2006.The implementation of theCBRwithin the monetary programme targets the quantityof money. The current CBR is 10 per cent, up fromthe initial rate of 9.75 per cent. Interest rates remainedmoderate with the 91-dayTB discount rate down froma high 8.68 per cent in April 2005 to a low 6.6 per centin June 2006.

The Kenya shilling exchange rates remained fairlystable in 2006, strengtheningmarginally against the USdollar at KES 72 compared to KES 76 in 2005. Theshilling is projected to depreciate in the medium termto 74-75 against the US dollar.

The monetary policy for 2006/07 will continue tobe directed towards attaining and maintainingunderlying inflation below 5 per cent. In line with thisgoal, M3 is set to grow by 10 per cent by June 2007while reserve money is also programmed to expand by

Table 2 - Public Finances (percentage of GDP)

a. Only major items are reported.Source: Domestic authorities' data; estimates (e) and projections (p) based on authors' calculations.

1997/98 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07(e) 2007/08(p)

Total Revenue and grantsa 21.4 20.8 22.4 22.6 23.0 22.5 22.2Tax revenue 18.4 18.1 19.0 19.4 19.0 18.6 18.4Grants 0.7 1.4 1.3 1.1 2.2 2.0 1.9

Total expenditure and net lendinga 22.5 24.3 23.3 22.5 26.5 23.7 23.6Current expenditure 20.7 20.9 20.0 19.1 20.9 19.3 19.0

Excluding interest 15.7 17.6 17.6 16.9 18.5 17.0 16.6Wages and salaries 4.2 7.8 7.9 7.8 7.3 6.9 6.5Interest on public debt 4.9 3.3 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3

Capital expenditure 1.7 3.2 3.2 3.3 5.5 4.4 4.5

Primary balance 3.8 -0.2 1.5 2.4 -1.0 1.1 0.9Overall balance -1.1 -3.5 -0.9 0.1 -3.5 -1.2 -1.4

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10 per cent. With the stable low interest rates, growthof domestic credit to the private sector is set to rangebetween 10 per cent and 12 per cent.

External Position

The deficit on current account increased to 2.6 percent of GDP in 2005, compared to 2.2 per cent of GDPin 2004, reflecting in part an increase in the oil bill andmoderate growth in non-oil imports, which togetherexceeded a sizeable increase in export earnings. Thedeficit is estimated at 2.8 per cent of GDP in 2006 andprojected to reach 3.4 per cent in 2007 before easingto 2.4 per cent in 2008. Net earnings from services,which include tourism earnings and unilateral transfers,

increased substantially in 2005 but not enough tomatch the increase in the visible trade deficit.

In 2005, horticulture, tea and coffee continued tobe the leading export earners accounting for 49.8 percent of the total domestic export earnings. Exportearnings improved to KES 168.4 billion in January toSeptember 2006, following increased earnings fromtea, manufactured goods, horticulture, oil productsand coffee exports.The values of tea, coffee and tobaccoexports rose by 14.7 per cent, 1.1 per cent and 69.1 percent, respectively, in January to September 2006,compared with the same period in 2005.While tea andcoffee exports fetched higher prices, export prices forsome horticulture products declined.

Table 3 - Current Account (percentage of GDP)

Source: Domestic authorities' data; estimates (e) and projections (p) based on authors' calculations.

1998 2003 2004 2005 2006(e) 2007(p) 2008(p)

Trade balance -7.2 -7.6 -10.1 -11.6 -10.1 -8.9 -8.2Exports of goods (f.o.b.) 14.4 16.2 16.8 17.3 15.3 15.0 14.6Imports of goods (f.o.b.) 21.6 23.8 26.9 28.9 25.4 23.9 22.8

Services 1.0 3.4 3.8 4.0 3.3 3.1 3.3Factor Income -1.2 -0.6 -0.8 -0.6 -0.5 -0.4 -0.4Current transfers 4.1 5.8 4.9 5.5 4.5 2.9 2.9

Current account balance -3.4 1.0 -2.2 -2.6 -2.8 -3.4 -2.4

The import values of crude oil and oil productsincreased by 12.1 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively,and jointly accounted for 22.7 per cent of the totalimport expenditure in 2005. Industrial machinery androad motor vehicles accounted for 17 per cent of thetotal import bill.

The Protocol establishing the East African CustomsUnion came into force on 1 January 2005. The keyobjectives of the CustomsUnion as provided under theProtocol is: to further liberalise intra-regional trade ingoods on the basis of mutually beneficial tradearrangements amongst the partner states; to promoteefficiency in production within the Community; toincrease domestic, cross-border and foreign investmentin the Community; and to promote economicdevelopment and diversification in industrialisation inthe community partner states.To achieve these objectives

the partner states undertook to eliminate tariff andnon-tariff barriers amongst themselves, simplify andharmonise trade formalities, produce and exchangecustoms and trade statistics and information, all inorder to create themost favourable environment possiblefor the development of regional trade.

In 2005, capital and financial accounts recordeda net surplus of KES 57 862 million compared witha net surplus of KES 18 964 million in 2004. Theincrease was attributed to increased long-term loansto the private sector, and capital transfers to thegeneral government.

The government’s aim is to reduce the domestic-debt stock from 22 per cent of GDP in 2003/04 to20 per cent by 2007/08. In addition, the net presentvalue of external debt was to be contained at around

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27 per cent of GDP for the medium term, therebyleaving the total debt ratio below 50 per cent of GDP.This implies a narrowing of the fiscal deficit (including

grants) to about 1 per cent of GDP in 2007/08 from2.6 per cent of GDP in 2004/05.

The Government has consistently maintained asound and timely debt-servicing policy. Annual debtservicing charges decreased from KES 114.9 billion in

2003/04 toKES 112.2 billion in 2004/05, while receiptson loan repayments and interest registered a substantial

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n Debt/GDP ——— Service/X

Figure 3 - Stock of Total External Debt (percentage of GDP)and Debt Service (percentage of exports of goods and services)

Source: IMF.

increase from KES 719.4 million in June 2004 toKES 1.7 billion in June 2005. External-debt-servicepayments as a percentage of export of goods and servicesdeclined to 6 per cent on 30 June 2005 compared with7.9 per cent a year earlier. This was due to the effectof a decline in external-debt servicing combined withconsistent growth in exports of goods and services inthe past five years.

External debt dropped from KES 443.2 billion inJune 2004 to KES 434.5 billion in June 2005. Theproportion ofmultilateral creditors in total external debtdeclined to 59.6 per cent at the end of September2006. Kenya has not benefited from debt cancellationunder the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiativebecause its level of debt is considered to be sustainable.

Structural Issues

Recent Developments

To improve accountability and efficiency in themanagement of public corporations and enhance therole of the private sector as the engine of growth andpoverty reduction, the government has initiated anumber of reform measures. These include: draftingthe Privatisation Bill in 2003, which is currently inparliament; introducing various reforms forrestructuring, rationalisation and good corporategovernance in public enterprises; identifying candidatesfor divestiture and privatisation and preparing strategiesand programmes for this process; and implementingreforms covering budgeting, financial management,

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internal audits and performance contracts for stateenterprises. Moreover, 16 state enterprises were put onperformance contract, effective from 1October 2004,

and Kenya railway concessioning was completed inDecember 2006. Prospective reforms include privatisingKenya Ports Authority, including concessioning ofcontainer terminals, bulk handling and conventionalcargo, concessioning roads and other public works,continuing the liberalisation of the telecommunicationssector and initiating the process for the privatisationof Telkom Kenya.

In the financial sector, the role of the state in theeconomy will be reduced through privatisation and/orrestructuring public enterprises and state-owned banks.TheMicrofinance Bill will be operationalised to improvethe supervision of deposit-taking institutions. Inaddition, reforms in the insurance sector are to bestrengthened, and a strategy for development financeinstitutions is to be developed.

The Governance, Justice, Law and Order Sectorreform programme, referred to as GJLOS, is now inan accelerated phase of implementation as a four-yearmedium-term Strategy ending in June 2009. GJLOSwill focus on improving the anti-corruption architectureby enhancing the investigative and prosecutorial capacityof the legislature, as well as by strengthening otherinstitutions in the criminal and civil justice systems. Amedium-term anti-corruption strategy withmeasurableperformance indicators is to be implemented. GJLOSwill address the systematic enhancement of public-sector integrity and accountability mechanisms inpublic institutions through the enforcement of codesof conduct and result-driven service charters.

Reforms to strengthen public-expendituremanagement aim at improving service delivery in thekey priority areas of health, education, infrastructureand agriculture. The reforms will focus on: meetingall 16 Public Expenditure Management Assessmentand Action Plan (PEMAAP) benchmarks by 2008/09(on 31 December 2005, only 6 out of 16 benchmarkshad been met); reducing the discrepancy betweenapproved budgets and budget outturns; and addressingthe main causes of budget reallocations during the

course of the year. From 2006/07 onwards, budgetreallocations are to be limited to no more than 8 percent and will be disallowed for new programmes. No

reallocations involving core poverty programmes willbe tolerated. In addition, a Public Procurement andDisposal Bill has been enacted and efforts are nowgeared towards operationalising the autonomousPublic Procurement Oversight Authority and makingsure that it is run efficiently.

Public-service reforms aim to re-establish controlover the wage bill, address capacity constraints in keyministries, and promote the creation of a more efficientpublic service. In this regard, the government has:introduced new wage-setting guidelines for publicemployees; announced its intention to streamline theterms and conditions of service for top managementin the government and state enterprises; taken steps tostrengthen capacity at all levels of government,particularly in ministries essential to the realisation ofthe ERS, such as the Ministry of Finance; andcommitted to restructure a number of key ministries,including the ministries of Roads and Public Works,Education, Health and Agriculture.

The government identified in its IP-ERS therestoration and expansion of infrastructure (transport,water, energy, telecommunications and informationtechnology) as one of the main pillars and challengesfor its economic recovery programme. In this regard,the share of resources going to physical infrastructureis projected to rise from 19.2 per cent in 2005/06 to21.6 per cent in 2008/09 with priority going to:expanding and improving maintenance of the roadnetwork and other public works; increasing access towater resources; and increasing the availability, reliabilityand affordability of energy.

The challenges facing the sector include expandingthe road network; reducing the rehabilitation andmaintenance backlog; strengthening road safety andcontrolling overloading, and expanding private-sectormanagement and financing.

For roads, activities include: formulation of a long-term road-sector strategy and amulti-agencymodel for

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managing responsibilities and financing for all types ofroads; rationalisation of the number of agents responsiblefor rehabilitation, construction and development of

urban roads under the Kenya Roads Board Act;completion of a road inventory and condition surveystudy; reducing the audit backlog for the road-levyfund and improving public information on the use ofthe fund; establishing a new road-safety authority;enforcing axle load control limits; and launching anational road-safety campaign. Selected targets for theIP-ERS period include rehabilitation of 2 815 kilometresunder the Roads 2000 Programme, reconstruction of150 kilometres of trunk roads per annum and theconcessioning of up to 1 208 kilometres of trunk roadduring 2004-07.

To ensure efficient and secure air transport, securitymeasures at airports are being improved, theconstruction of a perimeter fence and the installationof an intrusion-detection system are ongoing, whilethe refurbishment of the airport and civil-aviationfacilities has commenced.

In the telecommunications sub-sector, thegovernment is to make a public offering in 2007 forSafaricom shares, to be traded at the Nairobi StockExchange. In addition,TelkomKenya is also undergoinga major reorganisation aimed at strengthening itsbalance sheet, by purging it of bad debts amongst otheractions. The process of selling two of its loss-makingsubsidiaries, namely Gilgil Technical Institute and theKenya College of Communications Technology, wasinitiated in 2006.

The awarding of a license to an additional operatorto operate in both fixed-line and mobile-telephonynetworks is expected to lower prices and boostcompetition against the state-owned operator TelkomKenya, as well as mobile-service providers SafaricomandCeltel.The government also allowed all enterprisesin the sector to offer the entire range oftelecommunications services.

Further liberalisation, significant investment in ane-government initiative and zero rating of VAT oncomputer equipment, parts and accessories are expected

to boost growth in the sector.To improve service deliveryand efficiency in the public sector, the government hasestablished operational information and

communications technology units inministries, installedlocal area networks in Government buildings andimplemented rural telecommunications projects bythe Ministry of Information and Communications.

To maintain the competitive edge of the port ofMombasa, its operations are to be privatised while theport itself will remain the property of the state, whichbegan operating 24 hours per day in February 2007.Equipment is to be modernised and aMaritime SectorPolicy paper finalised. In addition, two new ferries willbe purchased to increase safety.

The authorities have redefined the role of the statefrom producer to facilitator in order tomake the privatesector the engine of growth through preparation of aprivate sector development strategy (PSDS) paperspelling out the reforms needed to enhance efficiencyand international competitiveness.The PSDS paper waslaunched in January 2007. An action plan detailingshort-and medium-term measures to improve theinvestment climate has been finalised, as well as anational export strategy action plan in five key sectorsfor implementation starting in 2005/06.

A number of measures to strengthen the financialsystem and create a predictable environment for private-sector development are being implemented. Thesereforms include: setting up the Bank Restructuring andPrivatisationUnit in theMinistry of Finance to developand implement restructuring reforms for state-ownedbanks; enacting the Micro Finance and Savings andCredit Co-operatives Bills by parliament; capacitybuilding to fightmoney laundering and for Combatingthe Financing ofTerrorism (CFT).These latter include:gazetting the National Task Force on Anti-MoneyLaundering (AML) and CFT in 2003; drafting theAML and Proceeds of Crimes Bill; drafting theSuppression ofTerrorism Bill (2003) to criminalise thefinancing of terrorism; and modernising the financialsystem with, amongst others, the drafting of a specificbill on Electronic Money Transfer, the amendment ofthe Banking Act and Central Bank Act to transfer all

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regulatory and supervisory roles from the Ministry ofFinance to the CBK, and the introduction of a newregulation tightening loan provisioning and classification.

Reforms in the agricultural sector aim to promoteproductivity growth and lower the costs of agriculturalinputs, particularly amongst smallholders andsubsistence farmers, who account for an estimated70 per cent of marketed agricultural production. Thereforms include: restructuring and rationalising thenetwork of agricultural-research institutes byconsolidating operations into the Kenya AgriculturalResearch Institute; strengthening the link betweenfarmers’ demands, extension provision and the directionof research, and increasing the productivity of publicinvestment; deepening agricultural financial services toensure that poor farmers have access to credit andinsurance; putting in place reforms to improvecompetition in input distribution and marketing, andenforcing the law against fraudulent practices of inputsupplies andmarketing agents; reducing transport coststhrough improved rural roads and reduced fuel taxesand electricity costs; improving access to informationthrough strengthened communications; giving supportto co-operatives, private investors and other institutionsto undertake necessary investments in marketing andvalue addition; formulating a national land policy toaddress land use and administration, land tenure, andland delivery systems; reviewing the law of successionto address gender imbalances in land; reassessing food-security policies and introducing pro-poor reforms;amending the Coffee Act to allow growers to sell coffeeoutside the auction and establishing an agency tooperate processing, marketing and input distribution;and supporting plans for the rehabilitation anddevelopment of irrigation systems to support therevitalisation of the cotton and rice sectors.

Access to Drinking Water and Sanitation

Kenya is not well-endowedwith water resources. Itsannual surface-water and ground-water potential is19.6millionm3 and 0.6millionm3 per year, respectively.This is less than 600 m3 per capita and well below thenorm of 1000m3 per capita, which describes a situationof water scarcity. Factors threatening these water sources

include: frequent droughts and floods, which reducewater catchment; rapid population growth, which leadsto the destruction of water-catchment areas through

land conversion and fragmentation; pollution fromchemical pesticides and fertilizers on agricultural land,as well as industrial wastes and raw sewage leachinginto surface and ground water.

The government of Kenya created the Ministry ofWater and Irrigation (MWI) in 2002 to consolidate theresponsibility for themanagement and development ofwater resources. Its mandate is to protect, harness anddevelop the country’s water resources to ensure theavailability of high-quality water to all.

The main institutions for the water and sanitationservices (WSS) sectors are theMWI, theWater Servicesand Regulation Board (WRSB), the Water ResourcesManagement Authority (WRMA) and the WaterServicesTrust Fund (WSTF).Other institutions includethe water-services boards, water-services providers andtheWater Appeals Board (WAB).These institutions areco-ordinated by theMWI, which has the leadership rolefor the WSS sector. Water operators areprivate/commercial enterprises. The role of small andmedium-sized organisations for water services in smalltowns and peri-urban areas is to provide water andsewerage services to users.They connect water users tothe trunk lines of the main water system provided bythe water-services provider and sell the water tohouseholds and other users. The water and seweragedepartments within themunicipality or local authorityhave been licensed to operate commercially as water-services providers and as water and sanitation enterprises.The different institutions and operators are regulatedunder the Water Act of 2002.

In order to address the challenge of managing itswater resources to satisfy sectoral demands, Kenyaadopted its first National Water ResourcesManagement Strategy (NWRMS) in 2003. TheNWRMS provides a clear, accountable and transparentroadmap for assessing, maintaining, enhancing,developing and managing fresh-water resources, usingan integrated approach and on a sustainable basis.Extensive investment is needed to remedy the low

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level of development of water resources. In addition,it is necessary to reverse catchment degradation andcontrol pollution.

There is no data on the average cost of access to waterand sanitation services. However, this information isexpected to be provided by the Kenya IntegratedHousehold Budget Survey which was undertaken in2005/6, the data of which is now being analysed.

At present, the proportion of the population withaccess to improved drinking-water coverage in Kenyais about 50.9 per cent and the sanitation coverage is81 per cent. The current water-supply coverage inurban and rural areas is 75.5 per cent and 39.3 per cent,respectively, while sanitation coverage is 94.8 per centand 76.6 per cent in urban and rural areas, respectively.

The government’s targets to meet the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs) by 2015 as indicated inthe ERS are 80 per cent and 96 per cent for nationwidecoverage of safe water supply and improved sanitation,respectively. For the urban and rural areas, the water-supply targets are 96 per cent and 66 per cent,respectively, while for sanitation they are 96 per centand 89 per cent, respectively.

The targets for WSS MDGs were planned and setfor each sector by theMinistry of Planning andNationalDevelopment, which is co-ordinating the monitoringof the MDGs together with a roadmap for theirachievement. Depending on the availability of fundsfor investment in water projects, the planned targetsare likely to be achieved. The progress rate in relationto the goals for access to drinking water and sanitation(WSS) is higher compared to other MDGs thanks tothe early establishment of an integrated approach towater issues. Moreover, the ongoing rehabilitation ofwater systems throughout the country has improvedthe access to water.

The main obstacles and challenges to WSS areinadequate finance and lack of institutional capacity.Problems include: inadequate plants and equipment forborehole drilling and dam construction; ageing WSSschemes of 20-40 years ago that need a complete

overhaul; need for more efficiency in the delivery ofwater services and improvement of revenue collection;difficulties in mobilising resources for the WSTF to

implement community schemes; inadequate resourcesto rehabilitate and expandWSS infrastructure, leadingto poor maintenance of these systems; and the demandfor services exceeding their design capacity.Most of thewater is not accounted for, due to the obsolete anddilapidated state of water infrastructure and to theincreasing incidence of illegal abstractions. Resourcesfor the rehabilitation and expansion of water andsewerage infrastructure have been inadequate, andsome water mains have been damaged by carelessconstruction practices. Customers have resisted payingfor water because of the general lack of accountabilityin the water sector. This is now beginning to changeas the water-services providers continue raising publicawareness of the importance of paying for water, andrevenue collected by the water-providing enterprises hasbeen increasing.

Reforms are driven by theNational Policy onWaterResourcesManagement andDevelopment (1999), theNWRMS of 2003 and the National Water ServicesStrategy and Investment Plan (2003). The Water Actof 2002 created the legal framework for theimplementation of these policies. The key principlesof the reform are articulated around the separation ofregulatory functions from services delivery, separationof ownership of assets from responsibility for operationand maintenance, the introduction of performancetargets and commercial principles, the ring fencing ofwater-services revenues to allow the collected revenueto be ploughed back and the redeployment of existingstaff to the new institutions.

Furthermore, it is government policy to devolvepolicy implementation to communities, the privatesector and sector stakeholders.This approach is detailedin the Strategy for Performance Improvement in thePublic Service and in the policy on the reforms andprivatisation of public enterprises. In this arrangement,the role of the ministry will be directed at policyformulation, implementation, co-ordination, supportin resource mobilisation and regulation. This newthrust is reflected in the Water Sector Strategic Plan.

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Currently, MWI gives higher priority to watersupply than to sanitation services. The MWI dealswith sewerage, bearing in mind that other sanitation

issues are being handled by theMinistry of Health.Thefear is that if most of the resources are directed towardsthe provision of water supply while neglecting sanitationservices, the environmental-sustainabilityMDGmightnot be achieved. Synergies do exist, however, assanitation services are also provided by otherstakeholders, such as the Ministry of Health.

A study is expected to be commenced soon todetermine the total amount of investment required foran efficient WSS infrastructure. The major actors infinancing the water sector are the government anddonors/development partners,mainly through revenuesgenerated from water charges, government budgetaryallocations, loans and grants. Multilateral financialinstitutions give loans and grants towater projects, whiletheNewPartnership for Africa’sDevelopment (NEPAD)water and sanitation programme provides technicaladvice. Multi-stakeholder participation in the WSSsectors is ensured through the SectorWide Approach toPlanning (SWAP). Donor funds increased significantlyin 2006 to KES 16.5 billion.Themain donors were theSwedish InternationalDevelopment Agency, theDanishInternational Development Agency, the AfricanDevelopment Bank, the World Bank, the FrenchDevelopment Agency, the Arab Bank for Developmentin Africa, Japan International Cooperation Agency, andtheUNHumanSettlement ProgrammeUN-HABITAT.

A number of projects are currently planned,including the Nile River Basin project for EfficientWater Use for Agricultural Production, the ongoingrestructuring of the MWI headquarters, and therehabilitation of water and sewerage in Nairobi,supported in large part by the AfricaWater Facility.Thegovernment budget for the MWI increased fromKES 3 billion in 2001/02 to KES 11 billion in 2006/07,with development expenditure for the water sectorincreasing from KES 3.2 billion in 2004/05 toKES 6 billion in 2005/06.

Further institutional changes are also needed. Apolicy on the management of transboundary water

resources is wanting but currently being developed inthe context of new projects in the planning and of theNile Basin Initiative. A nationalWSS monitoring and

evaluation mechanism is also lacking. WSS issues aremonitored and evaluated by the implementinginstitutions – the MWI or the Ministry of Health, forinstance. Reports are provided regularly and publishedperiodically. There is nonetheless transparency in theaward of contracts, with no known political interferencein water management.

Political Context and HumanResources Development

One of the major indications of the determinationto pursue good governance has been Kenya’scommitment to the African Peer Review Mechanism.Kenya completed the peer review process at the 5thSummit of the APR Forum in Banjul, the Gambia inJune, 2006.

The National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)government promised to deliver the new constitutionwithin 100 days of its taking office, but failed to doso.The draft supported by the government was defeatedby the supporters of the opposition party in the21 November 2005 national referendum, and it appearslikely that constitutional reform will not materialisebefore the next general election.

There was some realignment amongst the politicalparties after the reconstitution of the cabinet soon afterthe government lost the constitutional-referendumvote in November 2005. The formation of aGovernment of National Unity involved part of theoriginal NARC, as well as somemembers of parliament(MPs) from the opposition parties. MPs from theNARC rebel wing of the Liberal Democratic Party(LDP) were left out of the new governing coalition.NARC-Kenya (NARC-K) was launched on 3 June2006 with a huge show of power featuring the VicePresident and half of the cabinet in attendance. In July2006, by-elections were occasioned by the death offive MPs in a plane crash. NARC-K won three of thefive vacant seats, beating LDP and Kenya African

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National Union (KANU) rivals in an election thatsome considered a sign of the direction the next generalelection will take. NARC-K is closely associated with

the government, although the president has neverdeclared direct support for the party.

KANU, together with the LDP, had campaignedagainst the proposed constitution and both have nowformed a coalition party, the Orange DemocraticMovement Kenya (ODMK), to challenge the currentgovernment. Currently, the Political Parties Bill 2006is awaiting debate in parliament.The bill, if passed, willpave way for political parties to receive funding fromthe treasury.

In an effort to improve governance and reduce theperception of being a corrupt regime,measures are beingtaken to strengthen key institutions – including theOfficeof the Attorney General (AG), The Director of PublicProsecutions, the Judiciary and theKenyaAnti-CorruptionCommission (KACC) – that are on the front line of thewar on corruption.Thesemeasures include: hiring lawyersand special prosecutors from the private sector; reviewingterms andworking conditions of the legal staff in theAG’schamber; increasing the number of judges and anti-corruption courts; and implementing various governanceand anti-corruption strategies.

In addition, the national security loan contractsawarded by the Department of Defence have beenaudited and investigated and the reports tabled by theController and Auditor General as well as the PublicAccounts Committee. These contracts are also underinvestigation by the KACC.

TheGovernment continued to improve the deliveryof services at the local level as a way of alleviatingpoverty mainly through the increase of devolved funds.This included the Constituencies Development Fund(CDF), the Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF)and the Road Maintenance Fund (RMF), amongstothers. In 2006/07, the CDF was increased by almost40 per cent from the statutory requirement of 2.5 percent of ordinary revenues to about 3 per cent. Similarly,the LATF and RMF were increased by a comparable34 per cent and more than 50 per cent, respectively.

Efforts to improve the quality of free primaryeducation are continuing. These include: financialmanagement and accountability in schools; rationalising

the deployment of teachers; targeting tuitionscholarships to poor and orphaned children; expandingand improving educational facilities countrywide; andproviding adequate teaching and learning materials inschools. These measures have resulted in a significantimprovement in a number of indicators.

The percentage of primary-school graduatesenrolling in secondary school increased from 47 per centin 2002 to 57 per cent in 2006, and a target of 70 percent has been set for 2007. The number of studentsenrolled in universities increased from 71 349 in2001/02 to 89 979 in the 2005/06 academic year.However, notable problems subside, including themisappropriation of funds by headteachers, inadequatephysical infrastructure, a low teacher-pupil ratio andthe sustainability of the school feeding programme,especially in ASAL areas.

The authorities continued reorienting policy towardspreventive healthcare provision, while ensuring efficiencyand effectiveness in healthcare service deliverycountrywide. Reforms implemented in 2006/07include: improving healthcare procurement proceduresand accountability systems, as well as strengtheningsupervision capacity of medical supplies in rural heathfacilities in order to improve access to drugs andmedicalsupplies.The allocation of resources to the health sectorwas increased from 8.6 per cent of total governmentexpenditures in 2005/06 to 9.4 per cent in 2006/2007to promote the achievement of the MDGs.

These resources were used to fund, amongst others,HIV/AIDS interventions, healthcare infrastructureand affordable drugs.The government, in collaborationwith non-governmental organisations, set up mobilemedical programmes targeting vulnerable groups suchas those with disabilities and people living a nomadiclife. The government supplements the health budgetfor anti-retroviral drugs usingmoney provided throughthe treasury from the Global Fund while the Ministryof Health is responsible for its distribution. Theenactment of the Sexual Offences Bill in July 2006

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will also help to support the fight against the spread ofHIV/AIDS. The HIV and AIDS Protection andControl Act, 2006, was enacted in December 2006.

The Act provides for the protection and promotion ofpublic health and for the appropriate treatment,counselling, support and care for persons infected orat risk of HIV and AIDS infection.

The infant-mortality and the under-five-mortalityrate are estimated at 77 and 115 per 1 000 live births,respectively. The Kenya Demographic and HealthSurvey 1998 indicates a wide disparity of under-fivemortality across regions, with low mortality in thecentral part of the country while the rest recorded highmortality rates. Efforts to reduce child mortality havebeen hampered by a number of factors, including: adecline in levels of immunisation coverage against thesix childhood diseases; recurring incidence of hungerand the resultant protein-energymalnutrition amongstchildren; widespread incidences of malaria, diarrhoeaand acute respiratory infections, whichmainly have animpact on children; the HIV/AIDS epidemic andrelated opportunistic infections; low literacy levels andlow mothers’ education levels in many parts of the

country; inadequate access to sustainable clean-watersources and sanitation facilities; lack of access to healthservices in many parts of the country; and insufficient

resources, including trained health workers, equipment,drugs, etc.

There were a few incidents of polio outbreaks, adisease that was last detected in Kenya more than22 years ago. This was suspected to be caused by theinflux of refugees from the neighbouring countries.

The target of creating at least 500 000 jobs annuallyhas continued to remain a challenge to the government.The economy has been generating an average of 471 000jobs annually, most of which were in the informalsector. In 2004 and 2005, employment creation wasshort of targets by 16.6 and 41.1 thousand jobs,respectively. This situation may improve somewhat,following the establishment of a Youth Enterprise Fundestablished to provide young people with access tocredit for starting or up-scaling small or medium-sizedenterprises, developing their entrepreneurial skillsand/or creating job opportunities.

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