State/INL Kenya Program

Funding FY09-FY11

• FY 2009 - $1,055,000 (1207)*
• FY 2010: N/A
• FY2011: $2,000,000 INCLE**

*1207: Section 1207 of the National Defense Authorization Act
**INCLE: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Funds

Program Goals:

• Support Kenyan-led efforts for national police and judicial reform, focusing on responsiveness and accountability.
  
• Increase the capacity of the Kenyan criminal justice system to investigate and successfully prosecute cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Program Components/Accomplishments:

• Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Programs to address SGBV in Kenya began through the Women’s Justice and Empowerment Initiative (WJEI) in 2007, and focused on the areas of law enforcement and forensic development, community policing, and judicial training. Training courses were designed and implemented to equip law enforcement officials with the skills necessary to combat SGBV, and included crime scene processing, interviewing techniques, victim sensitivity training, and curriculum development. Through targeted trainings of police officers, prosecutors, judges and medical personnel, the ability of the criminal justice sector to respond to and investigate crimes of SGBV was strengthened. Moving forward, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) will continue to engage with both the judicial and legal sectors in order to improve Kenya’s ability to effectively and efficiently prosecute crimes, especially those related to SGBV, through legislative development and support.
  
• Anti-Corruption Assistance: Kenya has long been plagued by corruption and impunity. In an effort to address this longstanding issue, INL, in cooperation with other U.S. law enforcement agencies, supported placement in Kenya for 45 days of an Assistant District Attorney who specializes in corruption. This individual worked with the Resident Legal Advisor at Embassy Nairobi and provided specific technical expertise on more than 39 corruption investigations.