Kenya is a priority partner country for German and international development cooperation in East Africa. GTZ has been active in Kenya on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since 1975.

From its independence from Britain in 1963 until the mid 1980s, the country was economically and politically stable. However, corruption and inefficiency increased under Daniel arap Moi, President of Kenya from 1978 to 2002, and the country became politically unstable.

The government that has been in power since 2003 has attempted to overcome the crisis by liberalising the economy, fighting corruption and improving the rule of law. Economic growth rates of more than five percent and progress on the road to greater democracy are promising signs.

In recent years, GTZ has been helping to develop policies designed to achieve more than participatory and pro-poor goals. The central influence of the government is to be reduced, and the transition made to decentralised decision making and implementation by civil society, churches, the private sector, user groups and parastatal organisations. These policies have now largely been developed. The next step involves promoting their implementation. Cooperation focuses on three priority areas water, health und agriculture.

Further GTZ projects address the topics of good governance, pro-poor management of the public budget, and strengthening peace and security in the region. The fight against HIV/AIDS is part of all programmes and projects.

The presidential elections of 27 December 2007 ended in a tie, with both the government and the opposition claiming victory. Violent conflicts broke out among the population, particularly in the urban slums and in the west of the country, claiming a large number of lives. A peace deal brokered by the former UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, was signed by the parties to the conflict in February 2008. Since then, Kenya has been governed by a grand coalition, and the country is largely peaceful.

The shape of future development cooperation with Kenya depends on how the current political situation develops and on responsible conduct by all stakeholders.

After twenty years, Kenya finally began the process of transition to the new constitution after promulgating it on 27th August 2010, many provisions in the document  took immediate effect  while  changes to the country's governing structure will be phased in gradually.