As the largest economy in the EAC and COMESA in terms of GDP, Kenya has positioned itself as a major economic power in sub-Saharan Africa. Traditionally a largely agrarian economy, Kenya has quickly entrenched its position as a manufacturing, logistics and technology hub in the region, and this diversification forms a solid platform from which the government can generate economic growth over the coming years. The resolution of the electoral process, improving business confidence and strong private consumption are likely to support GDP expansion over 2018 and into 2019. In April 2018 the IMF estimated the economy would expand by 5.5% in 2018 and 6% in 2019, compared to 4.8% in 2017.

The country has a strong private sector and received encouraging forecasts of new oil, gas and water reserves, which if harnessed appropriately bode well for future growth. While a pending international court case resulting from prior elections provoked a measure of uncertainty, the country’s medium to long-term economic outlook is robust. With over 40% of the population under the age of 15, Kenya stands to benefit from a significant demographic dividend, provided that sufficient jobs can be found when this population bulge enters the workforce. The country has a reasonably sized industrial base, competitive infrastructure and a large agricultural sector, all of which offer opportunities for capital-intensive investment.

About the publication The African Disability Rights Yearbook addresses disability rights within the foundational structure laid down by the inaugural issue. The structure comprises a tripartite division between: articles; country reports; and shorter commentaries on recent regional and sub-regional developments. The African Disability Rights Yearbook aims to advance disability scholarship. Coming in the wake of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is the first peer-reviewed journal to focus exclusively on disability as human rights on the African continent. It provides an annual forum for scholarly analysis on issues pertaining to the human rights of persons with disabilities. It is also a source for country-based reports as well as commentaries on recent developments in the field of disability rights in the African region. The African Disability Rights Yearbook publishes peer-reviewed contributions dealing with the rights of persons with disabilities and related topics, with specific relevance to Africa, Africans and scholars of Africa. The Yearbook appears annually under the aegis of the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria. The Yearbook is an open access online publication, see www.adry.up.ac.za About the editors: Charles Ngwena is Professor, Department of Constitutional Law and Legal Philosophy, Faculty of Law, University of the Free State, South Africa. Ilze Grobbelaar‐du Plessis is a senior lecturer and holds the degrees BIuris LLB LLM LLD from the University of Pretoria. Helene Combrinck is Associate Professor at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, University of the Western Cape. Serges Djoyou Kamgais is Senior Lecturer at TMALI (UNISA). Table of Contents SECTION A: ARTICLES The Basic Education Act of 2013 as a tool for advancing early childhood development and education for children with disabilities in Kenya Mirriam Nthenge ‘Access to justice of children with disabilities in defilement cases; a myth or reality?’ Bernadette Malunga, Ngeyi Ruth Kanyongolo & Ngcimezile Mbano-Mweso The socio-economic rights of children with disabilities in South Africa: A comparison between the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Zita Hansungule & Trynie Boezaart ‘De-stigmatising psychosocial disabilities in South Africa’ Faraaz Mahomed & Michael Ashley Stein Mental illness, stigma and disability rights in Ghana Magnus Mfoafo-M’Carthy & Jeff Grischow Albinism in Africa: A proposed conceptual framework to understand and effectively address a continental crisis’ Mark P Mostert & Martha M Weich The identity question versus appropriateness of legal anti-discrimination measures: Endorsing the disability rights approach to albinism Abdallah Possi & Ally Possi SECTION B: COUNTRY REPORTS Djibouti Djibril Ismail Cher Madagascar Isambilo Rabearison-Andrianjara SECTION C: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS The right to the highest attainable standard of mental health in selected African countries: A commentary on how selected mental health laws fare against article 25 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Elizabeth Kamundia Disability rights developments in the East African Community post-2012 Damalie Naggita-Musoke BOOK REVIEW Elizabeth Barnes Minority body: A theory of disability Charles Ngwena

This book provides a rich and nuanced examination of children learning to read and write a second language in primary schools in Kenya, taught by teachers who themselves have often learned English as a second or third language. The author uses two case studies, of an urban and a rural school, to explore how different socioeconomic and cultural contexts can affect the enactment of language policies and their effect on literacy. This book contributes a unique perspective to studies in language and literacy education due to its distinctive exploration of young children learning to read and write in the English language in Kenya, and it will be of particular interest to students and scholars of applied linguistics, language education, bilingualism and language policy.

The peer review of the Action 13 Minimum Standard is proceeding in stages with three annual reviews in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The phased review process follows the phased implementation of CbC Reporting. Each annual peer review process will therefore focus on different aspects of the three key areas under review: the domestic legal and administrative framework, the exchange of information framework, and the confidentiality and appropriate use of CbC reports. This second annual peer review report reflects the outcome of the second review which considered all aspects of implementation. It contains the review of 116 jurisdictions which provided legislation or information pertaining to the implementation of CbC Reporting.

The Annual Review of Comparative and International Education 2019 examines the field of comparative and international education by bringing together scholars, professionals, and other stakeholders to investigate recent developments in the field that are relevant to contemporary and future educational reform and applications worldwide.

This book presents an in-depth analysis of how UN human rights institutions and mechanisms have addressed environmental protection, sustainable development, and climate change. Despite the increasing involvement of UN human rights bodies in addressing environmental degradation and climate change, a systematic review of the convergence between human rights and the environment in these bodies has not been carried out. Filing this lacuna, this book surveys the resolutions, general comments, concluding observations, decisions on individual communications and press releases. It identifies principles that have emerged, explores the ways in which human rights charter-based and treaty-based institutions are interpreting environmental principles and examines how they contribute to the emerging field of human rights and the environment. Given the disproportionate effect that polluting activities have on marginalized and vulnerable groups, Atapattu also discusses how these human rights mechanisms have addressed the impact on women, children, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and racial minorities. Written by a world-renowned expert on human rights and the environment, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars researching and teaching in this important field of study.

Agriculture is certainly the most important food supplier while it globally accounts for more than 70% of water used and contributes significantly to water pollution. Irrigated agriculture is facing rising competition worldwide for access to reliable, low cost, and high-quality water resources. However, irrigation as the major tool and determinant of affecting agricultural productivity and environmental resources plays a critical role in food security and environment sustainability. Innovative irrigation technologies and practices may enhance agricultural water efficiency and production, in the meantime decrease the water demand and quality issues. I am very pleased to invite you to submit manuscripts in agricultural irrigation which assess current challenges and offer improvement approaches and opportunities for future irrigation.

What is education for an unknowable future? In Educating for Durable Solutions, Christine Monaghan explores how refugees and policymakers have answered this question over time by reconstructing the contemporary history of education in Kenya's Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps. Through oral histories and archival research, Monaghan shows how, since the founding of both camps in 1991, refugees and policymakers have conceptualized, developed, implemented and changed refugee education programs. She also shows why and how, despite these changes, real challenges persist in refugee education in Dadaab, Kakuma, and other camps throughout the world; these include high numbers of out-of-school children and youth, high student to teacher ratios, unpredictable funding, and persistent questions regarding what refugee education is for. The author shifts focus from debates over the impacts of specific policies and programs and explores instead how and why different policies and programs were implemented whether they led to meaningful changes in the long-standing challenges of refugee education. She finds that when and where real changes occurred, individuals or small groups of refugees and policymakers acted with tremendous agency and as tireless advocates.

Democracy and Electoral Politics in Zambia aims to comprehend the current dynamics of Zambia’s democracy and to understand what was specific about the 2015/2016 election experience. While elections have been central to understanding Zambian politics over the last decade, the coverage they have received in the academic literature has been sparse. This book aims to fill that gap and give a more holistic account of contemporary Zambian electoral dynamics, by providing innovative analysis of political parties, mobilization methods, the constitutional framework, the motivations behind voters’ choices and the adjudication of electoral disputes by the judiciary. This book draws on insights and interviews, public opinion data and innovative surveys that aim to tell a rich and nuanced story about Zambia’s recent electoral history from a variety of disciplinary approaches. Contributors include: Tinenenji Banda, Nicole Beardsworth, John Bwalya, Privilege Haang’andu, Erin Hern, Marja Hinfelaar, Dae Un Hong, O’Brien Kaaba, Robby Kapesa, Chanda Mfula, Jotham Momba, Biggie Joe Ndambwa, Muna Ndulo, Jeremy Seekings, Hangala Siachiwena, Sishuwa Sishuwa, Owen Sichone, Aaron Siwale, Michael Wahman.