CMI REPORT
DONOR SUPPORT TO PARLIAMENTS – TANZANIA AND BEYOND
R 2010:8
Executive Summary 1. The legislature epitomises the very idea of democracy, and a strong parliament is indicative of a healthy democracy and a good governance system. Parliaments perform three core functions: (a) representing the electorate; (b) lawmaking (including budget making); and (c) oversight of the executive branch of government (‘checks and balances’). 2. In most developing countries, executive (presidential) powers tend to be preponderant and parliaments tend to be weak. In Africa in particular, presidential domination is a major governance problem, and for democratic developments and processes to take place, a further strengthening of the parliament (and the judiciary) is crucial. 3. Kenya is a democratic multi-party republic with a presidential system of government. The ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) was the only legal political party until the early 1990s when civil unrest and international pressure led to the restoration of multi-party politics. The opposition was able to end nearly 40 years of KANU rule with Kibaki and the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)’s landslide victory in the 2002 general elections. 4. Kenyan elections have been flawed and far below international standards. People have been killed and displaced. There has been a long-lasting top-level political rivalry between President Kibaki and the opposition leader Odinga, who is now the Prime Minister in a grand coalition government. 5. The National Assembly of Kenya has seen significant developments. On the positive side, it has increased its financial independence and pursued allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement in several well-known financial scandals. The committees have become more active and the number of major bills passed has increased. The conflict between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga has nevertheless paralysed much parliamentary work. 6. The USAID has been supporting the National Assembly in Kenya since 2000 through a project executed by SUNY/CID, and later also in partnership with DFID. The USAID/DFID-led programme has led to the implementation of new House Rules that have inter alia opened up committee hearings to the public and increased the parliament’s watchdog muscle. Live TV and radio broadcast of plenary debates has also increased the transparency of parliamentary proceedings. 7. With the new Kenya Joint Assistance Strategy (KJAS), a larger number of donors have joined forces for the period 2009-2013. The group has formed the Democratic Governance Donor Group (DGDG). 8. One lesson from Kenya is the importance of good working relations between the National Assembly and civil society. There now exists in a Kenya a vibrant parliament-focused civil society and a private sector community that have been providing policy analyses and support for legislative work. 9. Uganda is formally a democracy, but the president, the military and the ruling party sturdily dominate this polity, with overt tendencies of clientelism, nepotism, and militarism. The country has not had a peaceful, constitutional transfer of power since independence in 1962. Uganda returned to multiparty politics only after a referendum in 2005. 10. The first multi-party elections after formal democratisation were the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2006. These were marred by politically motivated violence and bribery of voters. The second general elections – presidential, national assembly and local – will take place in February-March 2011. There are no limits on presidential terms, and President Museveni will most probably remain in power for many more years.
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