The Directorate was established through Presidential circular No. 1 of 30th May 2008 to spearhead the promotion of national cohesion, reconciliation and integration. Subsequent executive orders including Executive order No. 2 of May, 2013 and the Executive order No. 1 of May 2016 expanded the mandate and functions of the Directorate to include:

Coordination of the implementation of Sessional Paper No. 8 of 2013 on National Values and Principles of Governance;

Coordination of the implementation of Sessional Paper No. 9 of 2013 on National Cohesion and Integration.

Coordination of the preparation of the Annual Presidents Reports on measures taken and progress achieved in the realization of National Values and Principals of Governance espoused in Article 10 of the Constitution;

Coordination of the promotion and reporting on National Values and Principles of Governance;

Provision of strategic leadership and policy direction on matters of National Cohesion and National Values;

Formulation, coordination and implementation of programmes for the promotion of national cohesion and reconciliation in liaison with other stakeholders;

Liaising with other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in mainstreaming national cohesion, national values and reconciliation within the public service;

Creation of networks and a database of national cohesion and values stakeholders and actors;

Advocacy, training and sensitization on national cohesion, reconciliation and national values;

Conducting research, monitoring and evaluation of national cohesion, reconciliation and national values programmes; and

Spearheading the identification and recognition of cohesion champions at various levels.

On the other hand, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission is an independent commission established through an act of Parliament. The Commission undertakes the following mandates/functions:

Foster a general understanding of the concepts of national cohesion and integration in reference to the Constitution of Kenya (2010);

Address causes of ethnic discrimination, negative ethnicity, perceptions of discrimination, unequal distribution of resources and opportunities;

Unify and integrate Kenyans into a cohesive society guided by national values and the principles of governance contained in Article 10 of the Constitution;

Foster equity and social justice by building on, or complementing other on-going national processes aimed at addressing nationhood, national cohesion and integration;

Establish and promote principles, standards and best practices that should guide the process of national cohesion and integration, and reconciliation;

Provide a schedule of roles for various stakeholders in the operationalisation of the national cohesion and integration process, and establish how these stakeholders can be mobilized to play their roles effectively;

Provide an organizational framework for the implementation of the policy strategic objectives; and

Provide a framework for mainstreaming national cohesion and integration into national development programmes, projects and activities including infusing cohesion principles into laws and policies as stipulated in the NCI Act.

The Directorate no longer receives quarterly report, they are sent to Performance Management and Coordination Unit, KICC  Building.

The deadline for submission of the Annual Presidents Report by MDAs is 15th of January every year.

MDAs are expected to request for training in writing. The Directorate thereafter engages MDAs to agree on the training dates and other logistics.

MCDAs should email signed reports with evidence attached to nationalvalues2017@gmail.com and info2@cohesionandvalues.go.ke. However hard copies should be submitted to the Directorates offices at 9th and 10th Floors, Extelcom Building Nairobi.

The national values and principles of governance under Article 10 (2) include—

• patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, democracy and participation of the people;
• human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination and protection of the marginalised;
• good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability; and sustainable development

It begins from 16th January to 15th January the following year.