Kenya and Sweden Sign Grant on Reforms

Kenya has signed a bilateral agreement with Sweden that will boost its push for reforms.

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Sweden ambassador Anna Brandt Wednesday signed the grant in which her government will give Kenya Sh3.5 billion per year for the next five years - a total of Sh17.5billion to drive the country’s reform agenda.

"Swedish support will be clearly linked to implementation of key reforms initiatives, with an emphasis on those agreed in the National Accord,” said Mrs Brandt.

She spoke after signing the agreement at the Finance ministry Treasury office in Nairobi.

The grant has injected additional funds to the government’s efforts to deliver the long-term reforms that were identified by the Serena team, which was formed to negotiate a lasting solution to the 2008 post-election violence.

The long term reforms, which were identified during the talks under Agenda 4, include enactment of a new constitution, land reforms, unemployment and addressing historical injustices.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have expressed confidence that the country will have a new constitution in a year.

Parliament has also established the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) and the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC), key institutions in the realisation of a credible electoral system.

According to Mr Kenyatta the agreement between Kenya and Sweden will support governance and spur overall development.

The Chairperson of Kenya Commission on Human Rights Simbiri Jaoko said the government must use the funds on specific areas but give priority to reforming the electoral system.

“The government still needs to build the IIEC and the IIBRC, because the reforms recommended in the Agenda Four included creation of a credible electoral systems,” she told Daily Nation on phone.