THE PRESIDENCY
The Executive Office of the President
Directorate of National Cohesion and
Values
UNDERSTANDING NATIONAL
VALUES AND PRINCIPLES OF
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Understanding National Values and
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Presentation Overview
1. Definition of concepts
2. Constitutional provisions on national
values and principles of governance
3. National Values and Principles of
Governance
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Definition of concepts
1. Values
Important and lasting beliefs or ideals shared
by the members of a culture about what is
good or bad and desirable or undesirable.
2. National Values
National values are beliefs of a nation guiding
the actions and behavior of its citizens
3. Principles of Governance
These are principles that oblige the state to
perform its functions in a manner that
promotes the general well-being of its people
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Background : African
traditional/religious values
VALUE
Trust
ATTRIBUTES
Sincerity, Friendship, Sacrifice
Culture and Appreciation of culture, appreciation of
Ethnicity
cultural diversity (rejecting negative
Work Ethic
ethnicity)
Hard work, Commitment
Stewardship Environmental Conservation, Proper
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use of resources
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Background: traditional/religious
values cont..
Respect
Respect for Authority, Human Life, Other
for others people’s property, Religion, Tradition,
Gender Equality
Altruism / Generosity, Selflessness, Servant
Concern Leadership, Love, Courtesy, Forgiveness,
for others Hospitality
Family
Responsible parents, Respect for elders,
Love for Children, Children as God’s
Blessings
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Background: traditional /religious
values cont..
Quality of
Life Values
Safety & Security
Time Consciousness, Punctuality,
Self-Control, Resourcefulness,
Others
Humility, Moderation / Temperance,
Perseverance, Discipline, Excellence,
Reliability
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What is the present
situation?
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Constitutional provisions towards promotion of
national values and principles of governance
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Constitutional provisions
PREAMBLE
RECOGNISING the aspirations of all Kenyans for
a government based on the essential values of
human rights, equality, freedom, democracy,
social justice and the rule of law:
Article 4(2)
The Republic of Kenya shall be a multi-party
democratic State founded on the national
values and principles of governance referred
to in Article 10.
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Constitutional provisions cont..
Article 234(2)(h) requires the Public Service
Commission to evaluate and report to the
President and Parliament on the extent to
which the values and principles referred to in
Articles 10 and 232 are complied with in the
public service.
Article 249(1)(b) requires all constitutional
commissions and independent offices to
secure the observance of democratic values
and principles by all State organs.
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Constitutional provisions cont..
Under Article 132(1)(c) the Constitution
provides that the President shall once every
year, report in an address to the nation, on all
the measures taken and the progress achieved
in the realization of the national values,
referred to in Article 10.
The President is further required to publish in
the Kenya Gazette the details of the report.
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National Values and Principles
of Governance
{Article 10 (2)}
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1. Patriotism
 Love, loyalty and
devotion shown to
one's country
 It calls for one's
support to the
nation
 Patriotism
is
about service to
one's country
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2. National unity
• Unity
is
the
deliberate decision to
work with others in
pursuit of common
goals.
• It is a choice to work
as a team in tackling
the
challenges
Kenyans face as a
nation.
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3. Sharing and Devolution of
Power
• This is about
sharing of power
and resources
between national
and county
governments.
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4. Rule of Law
• A legal maxim which
states that no person is
above the law, and no
one can be punished by
the government except
for a breach of the law.
• Rule of law is adhered
to when individuals,
persons,
and
government submit to
obey, and be regulated
by law
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5. Democracy and Participation of
the People
• Democracy is a system
in which all citizens
exercise direct and
equal participation in
the
running
their
country affairs.
• Participation is the
practice of involving all
people
in
making
decisions which ensures
mutual respect
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6. Human dignity
• Dignity signifies that a
human being has an
innate right to respect
and ethical treatment.
• It is the idea that all
humans
should
be
treated with love /
respect since they are
humans regardless of
class,
race,
gender,
nationality,
sex,
education, religion, etcPrinciples of Governance
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7. Equity
• Equity is about
fairness, impartiality
and justice.
• It refers to anything
that is fair or equitable.
• The quality of being
reasonable and fair in
decisions and actions.
• In law, it is about
natural justice and fair
conduct.
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8. Social justice
• Social justice refers to the idea
of creating a society that is
based on the principles of
equality, human rights, and
that recognizes the dignity of
every human being.
• It implies fairness in the
society
• Social justice is about a society
which gives individuals fair
treatment and a just share of
the benefits of society
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9. Inclusiveness
• Inclusiveness is a sense
of belonging, feeling
respected and valued
for who you are.
• It makes people feel
valued and essential to
the success of a group.
• Individuals feel more
valued in the general
mission of their country.
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10. Equality
• Equality is where all people
within a group have the same
status in a certain respect.
• It includes equal rights under
the law, such as security,
voting, freedom of speech,
access to education, health
care and other social
securities
• It also includes equal
opportunities
and
obligations,
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11. Human Rights
• These are rights inherent to
all human beings without
discrimination.
• They include the right to life,
equality before the law,
freedom of expression, the
right to work, social security,
education.
• Individuals should also
respect the human rights of
others.
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12. Non-discrimination
• Refers to fairness in
treating
people
without
discrimination
irrespective of their
gender, ethnic, class,
religious,
race,
geographical or even
generational
differences.
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13. Protection of the marginalized
• Being
marginalized
refers
to
being
separated from the
rest of the society,
and not being at the
centre of things.
• Marginalized people
are not considered to
be a part of the
society.
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14. Good Governance
• The process of collective
decision-making and the
implementation of those
decisions.
• A term used to describe
how public institutions
conduct public affairs and
manage public resources
in order to guarantee the
realization of human
rights and social welfare.
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15. Integrity
• Consistency
of
actions,
values,
principles,
expectations, and outcomes.
• The honesty and truthfulness
of one's actions in regard to
the motivation for one's
actions.
• The will to refuse to engage in
behavior that is corrupt,
morally questionable.
• It calls for transparency and
accountability.
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16. Transparency and Accountability
• Transparency is openness
or lack of “hidden
agendas” accompanied by
availability of full
information required.
• Accountability is the
assumption of
responsibility for
outcomes, both formal and
informal, represented by
measures of achievement.
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17. Sustainable Development
• A pattern of resource use
that aims to meet human
needs while preserving the
environment so that these
needs can be met in the
present, and also for
generations to come.
• The development that
meets the needs of the
present
without
compromising the ability of
future generations to meet
their
own needs.
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Conclusion
“You cannot give what you
do not have”
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