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New Zealand ’s relations with Kenya are warm, but thin. Bilateral trade with Kenya is low. Two-way trade for the year to June 2006 totalled $9 million. Our main exports are milk and cream. There remains considerable export education potential. Our main import from Kenya is coffee.
The more open governance ushered in by President Kibaki has provided an opportunity to rebuild the relationship in a modest way. Kenya has expressed interest in the New Zealand model of public sector reform and has highlighted the possibility of receiving assistance with this.
New Zealand 's Official Development Assistance in southern and eastern Africa administered by NZAID focuses on basic and non-formal education, rural livelihoods and HIV/AIDs. Partners include United Nations specialist agencies and non-governmental organisations.
Kenya is part of the NZAID Africa Regional Programme. A major partner in Kenya is UNICEF. New Zealand is contributing $US 797 000 over three years in support the UNICEF Country Programme Action Plan targeting girls’ education. Other support is channelled through local and NZ non-governmental organisations focusing on grass roots support in the above areas. Other funding includes support to the New Zealand Voluntary Agency Support Scheme (VASS), which provides funding for New Zealand NGOs working in partnership with local NGOs.
During the 2004/05 financial year ODA expenditure to Kenya totalled nearly $600 000. Kenya postgraduate students are also able to apply for the Commonwealth and the NZ Development Scholarship schemes. top of page
Official Name - Republic of Kenya - Land Area - 580,367 sq km - Population - 34.3 million (2005 EIU estimate) - Capital City - Nairobi - Religion - Traditional African beliefs, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Baha'ism - Languages - Kiswahili, although English, Kikuyu and Luo are widely understood
Political system - Unitary republic - National Unity Government - The and his appointed cabinet - National legislature - Multi-party Unicameral National Assembly (210 elected members, 12 nominated members, the attorney-general and the speaker) - Last election - 27 December 2007 (presidential and legislative) - Next election due - 2012 (presidential and legislative) - Head of State - President Emilio Mwai Kibaki - Head of Government - Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga.
GDP - US$27.4 billion (2007 EIU estimate) - Real GDP growth - 6.5% (2007 EIU estimate) - Exports - US$4.1 billion (2007 EIU estimate) - Imports - US$8.5 billion (2007 EIU estimate) - Main exports - Tea (US$693 million); Horticultural products ($US636 million); manufacturing ($US514 million) – (2007 provisional) - Current account - -US$1.1 billion - Inflation - 9.7% (2007) - Gross external debt - US$6.7 billion (2007 EIU estimate)
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$9.3 million (for the year to December 2008) - Main Exports - Milk and cream (44.3%); iron or steel (26.6%); machine tools for working metal (6%) - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$3 million (for the year to December 2008) - Main Imports - Coffee (61.5%); confidential items (6.5%); fixed vegetable fats and oils (5.4%).
In November 1976, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs was the first New Zealand Minister to pay an official visit to Kenya. In 1978 the New Zealand Ambassador to Rome attended the funeral of President Kenyatta as New Zealand's representative. Prime Minister Rt Hon David Lange visited Kenya in 1985.
In October 1991 Prime Minister Bolger visited Kenya following the CHOGM in Harare. President Moi attended the Auckland CHOGM in 1995. Rt Hon Don McKinnon as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade visited Nairobi briefly in 1993 and again in March 1999. Hon Marian Hobbs visited Nairobi in 2004 to attend a conference on Anti-Personnel Mines. In March 2005, the Hon Jim Sutton visited Kenya to attend a Doha Development Round mini-ministerial meeting.
top of pageNew Zealand accredited its first representative to Kenya (from Athens) in 1982. Following the establishment of a post in Africa ( Zimbabwe), responsibility for Kenya was transferred to Harare. On the closure of the High Commission in Harare in November 2000, responsibility for Kenya was transferred to Pretoria. An Honorary Consul resident in Nairobi was appointed in 2001. Kenya is accredited to New Zealand through its High Commission in Canberra.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Kenya [external link].
