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Comparison

Read two legal systems against each other

Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.

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Comparison of selected legal systems
AttributeKenyaReviewedIvory CoastReviewed
Legal familyMixed (common law, customary law, Islamic law)Civil law (French tradition)
System of governmentUnitary presidential republic with devolved countiesUnitary presidential republic
ConstitutionConstitution of KenyaConstitution of the Third Republic
In force since20102016
CapitalNairobiYamoussoukro
Official languagesEnglish, SwahiliFrench, Baoulรฉ, Dioula
CurrencyKenyan Shilling (KES)West African CFA franc (XOF)
Population55,100,00028,900,000
Division of powersPresidential system with no Prime Minister, a bicameral Parliament of National Assembly and Senate, 47 county governments with their own assemblies and executives, and an independent judiciary supervised by the Judicial Service Commission.Presidential system with a Vice-President and Prime Minister, a bicameral Parliament of National Assembly and Senate, and a judiciary headed by the Cour de cassation, Conseil d'ร‰tat and Cour des comptes after the 2018 reorganisation.
How law is madeBills are read three times with committee scrutiny and public participation, which the courts treat as a justiciable requirement. Bills concerning counties must pass both chambers. The President assents or refers the bill back with reservations, which Parliament may override by two-thirds.Government or parliamentary bills pass committee and plenary in both chambers; the National Assembly prevails after a failed conciliation. The President promulgates or refers the text for constitutional review.
Legal professionFused: an LLB, the Kenya School of Law advocates training programme, and admission by the Chief Justice produce an advocate of the High Court. The Law Society of Kenya is the professional body; Senior Counsel is the senior rank.Avocats admitted through the Barreau de Cรดte d'Ivoire; notaires, huissiers and commissaires-priseurs are separate ministerial officers.

A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full โ€” the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.