Abstract:
A look at existing research on foreign policy behavior of Kenya shows that the studies are far from conclusive on the role of Parliament in foreign policy decision-making processes. In particular, Parliament’s role in influencing the state’s foreign policy behavior towards the East African Community (EAC) has not been evaluated adequately. This study seeks to examine the role of the Kenyan Parliament in influencing foreign policy behavior of the state towards the EAC. While the constitution delegates power to Parliament with regards to participating in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy, in practice there appears to be a low level of the institution’s participation in influencing the foreign policy behavior of the state towards the EAC. This study further seeks to examine the challenges facing the state’s Parliament in the process of influencing foreign policy behavior towards the EAC. This study also examines the extent to which Parliament has been independent in influencing the state’s foreign policy behavior towards the EAC from 1967 through 1977, and during the period between 2002 and 2012, that is, during the EAC I and EAC II. The study examines the role of Parliament in foreign policy making processes within the organizational process model, while also incorporating other models within similar dimensions.