This magazine for 2006 is the seventh in this series of the joint Kenya-UNESCO publication. I am therefore grateful to UNESCO for the continued support in the printing of this high quality magazine. Through the previous six editions the magazine has played an important role of informing and educating the readers both from the academic and the general public. In addition the business community is increasingly becoming more interested in putting their adverts as they have found it strategic in publicizing and promoting their business ventures within and outside the country. It is gratifying to note that the visibility of UNESCO within the country has been greatly enhanced as the magazine gets distributed to the wide range of stakeholders including UNESCO National Commissions in other countries globally.

The year 2005 witnessed major reforms within the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO. A key stakeholder’s workshop was held in April, 2005. The climax of this workshop was the formation of a taskforce consisting of key stakeholders including the Commission for Higher Education (CHE), National Museums of Kenya and Ministry of Water and Irrigation. The main objective of the taskforce is to oversee the implementation of the workshop recommendations as well as act as a governing body to the Commission until the Commissioners are formally appointed. Later in the year Kenya effectively participated in the 33rd General Conference of UNESCO where five Kenyans were elected in strategic Boards and Committees of UNESCO. It is envisaged that some of the approved Draft Resolutions (DRs) will be implemented in the 2006-2007 biennium and will go along way in enhancing the visibility of UNESCO within the country.

This year’s edition like the previous ones consists of two parts. The first section of the magazine focuses on the overview of the major programmes of UNESCO’s field of competence namely; Education, Natural and Social Sciences, Culture and Communication. The principal priority areas in each major programme are outlined as per the UNESCO’s Programme and Budget 33 C/5 document. These principal priorities of UNESCO have accordingly been made priority areas of the national programme committees namely: Education For All (EFA); water and associated ecosystems; ethics of science and technology, with emphasis on bioethics; promotion of cultural diversity; and empowering people through access to information and knowledge. Some of the activities and projects implemented within the framework are then covered within the major programmes.

Within the Education Programme, the Commission emphasis was on mitigation on the impact of HIV and AIDS in teacher education. Three HIV and AIDS workshops were held for Principals of Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) and National Schools, Deputy Principals and teachers infected with HIV and AIDS. Other activities included: International Conference on Accreditation, Quality Assurance and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education; Regional Workshop on Implementing the UNESCO’s Normative Instruments concerning Technical and Vocational Education and Training; support of the preparation of the Innumeracy and Competences skills in Pre-School and Primary school; development of Special Needs Education Policy; development of an integrated policy framework for Early Childhood Development; and a project on the search of an appropriate policy language for identification of persons with disabilities.

Other major activities undertaken in other programmes included: a project on assessment of groundwater quality in the urban and peri urban centres with a specific focus on the Nairobi aquifer; participation in the Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data (NILE FRIEND) programme; evaluation of the state of the Amboseli National Park; follow up on Mt. Elgon Transboundary Biosphere Reserve; and Organization of the Africa Regional Capacity Building Training Course for the Managers and Directors of Protected Areas; Hosting of the 5th AU Session of the African Ministers of Culture Conference; Organization of the 2nd Annual Kenya Music week in collaboration with the Department of Culture; A Workshop for Empowering Teenage Mothers; the launching of the UNESCO Youth Forum – Kenya Chapter; and holding of a key Stakeholders Conference on the draft National ICT Policy. In addition Kenya joined the International Community in Celebrating the International Literacy Day, the EFA Week and the 4th UNESCO World Philosophy Day.

The second part of the magazine focuses on general aspects of Kenya. It provides crucial information on wide range of subjects including geography, history, tourism, agriculture, ICT etc. Articles for this part are sourced from different Ministerial Departments and Institutions by the UNESCO printer.

Finally, I once again thank UNESCO for providing resources for this publication. It is my hope that the readers of this magazine will find it quite educative and informative.