Politics, Ethnicity and Peace…Kenya 3-months on
| April’s Africa Watch Newsletter follows the recent CAI post-election watch on Kenya (27/03/08; The Aftermath of the Kenyan Elections: Focus on the Economy). This month we review the situation 3 months on looking at the equally important issues of ethnicity, politics and peace. |
Before the General Election of December 2007, Kenya was regarded as one of the forerunners on the African continent, both in terms of political stability, as well as economic and social development. However, the scale and intensity of the violence that overcame the country in the wake of the election has shattered that image and exposed political and ethnic divisions that have been simmering below the surface. The violence has resulted in over 1,000 dead and approximately 500,000 internally displaced persons in the country. Whilst a peace deal was concluded on February 28, the problems in Kenya cannot merely be solved by such an agreement. The question now arises as to how long it will take the country to recover from the two months of violence and bloodshed, and if indeed such a recovery is possible.
ETHNIC TENSIONS
The aftermath of the General Elections has specifically brought to light the ethnic divisions in Kenya, which have persisted since independence and which have not been addressed by any Government since. Politics in Kenya is closely enmeshed with the rivalry between ethnic groups and this was essentially played out during and after the elections.
Opposition party Orange democratic Movement (ODM), focused its campaign efforts around the perception that the Kibaki government had furthered the interests of the Kikuyu ethnic group, whilst the ruling Party of National Unity (PNU) concentrated on Luo cultural traditions to discredit its opponents. This gave rise to substantial pre-election violence in Kuresoi, Molo, and Mount Elgon during 2007 and was a prelude to the clashes following the election.
IRRESPONSIBLE POLITICS?
Kenya’s political leaders and political organisations have been accused of ‘irresponsible politics’ by several international organisations and NGO’s who were observers before and after the elections. This was tied to the fact that election campaigns, as mentioned above, deliberately incited existing differences and tensions between the different ethnic groups. Kenyan leaders were also widely criticised of not immediately calling for an end to the violence following the disputed election results and instead, of using their support base to further their own agenda in the race for the rule of the country.
Another factor that captured international attention was the usage of excessive force by the police in breaking up public gatherings and protests. According to Human Rights Watch, the often violent actions of the police force led to the deaths of hundreds of protesters and innocent bystanders.
THE LONG ROAD TO PEACE
As evidenced above, the peace process is no longer just about power sharing between the main political parties. The recent violence and tension in Kenya has been indicative of the deep-rooted hostilities between ethnic groups and the clashes between the common people and those in power. Former Secretary-General of the United Nations and chief peace mediator in Kenya, Kofi Annan, pointed out that the new coalition Government needed to have a practical ‘reform agenda’ to address the roots of the crisis in Kenya. Annan also called for a ‘new culture of accountable governance’ in the country in order to address issues like land rights, poverty, inequality and development, which were also viewed by the international community as significant factors related to the upheaval in the Kenya.
The Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission, under which the current peace deal and power-sharing agreement was negotiated, is seen as an important platform to promote good governance and political stability in the country. The establishment of several other bodies, such as the Commission of Inquiry on political violence, an Independent Review Committee on the elections and a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission are other measures in which Kenyan leaders are attempting to restore the image of the country in the eyes of the international community.
More importantly, with the signing of the peace deal, the stage is now set for the coalition Government, with ODM leader Raila Odinga as Prime Minister and Mwai Kibaki retaining the President position.
TENDING TO THE ECONOMY
While discussed more in-depth in the CAI post-election watch, the backlash of the post-election violence has had severe consequences for the Kenyan economy. In a landscape of uncertainty, thousands of Kenyan businesses were effectively in a state of limbo, resulting in massive revenue and job losses throughout the country. It is estimated that the economy may have lost approximately Sh150 - Sh200 billion since the election. As a result, Kenya’s economy has spiralled downward and this effect is being felt across the board, with all sectors being affected – from informal street hawkers, farmers and fishermen, to large multinationals, airlines and major players in road and rail transport.
A key issue for political leaders to address is the financing of an economic recovery plan. According to a recent speech by President Kibaki, the Government has allocated Sh1.25 billion from the current budget, but a further Sh31.5 billion is still required from development partners. Sectors that will form a key part of the economic recovery plan include tourism, infrastructure and industry. However, due to rising food and fuel prices, as well as an increase in inflation rates, priority attention also needs to be given to healthcare, education and poverty reduction issues.
The Kenyan crisis has had negative and positive aspects in the perception of Africa. On the negative side, it has demonstrated that even stable countries can be thrown into chaos and political infighting. On the positive side, the conclusion of a peace deal and the establishment of a coalition Government is an encouraging sign for issues such as democracy and development on the African continent.
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