Kenya's 2017 Elections and Possible Violence

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 17 June 2016 a commentary titled "Signs of Violence Ahead of Kenya's 2017 Elections" by Peter Aling'o and Hawa Noor, both at ISS.

The authors argue that despite efforts to strengthen electoral processes, perceptions remain that Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) may not be able to guarantee free and fair elections next year. The IEBC's integrity, credibility, independence and public stature have been seriously eroded.

Kenyan Politics Don't Seem to Change

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 24 March a commentary titled "Kenyan Political Leadership: The More Things Change . . ." by Sebastian Gatimu and David Wamugo Wagacha, both with ISS Nairobi. 

The authors concluded that the post-2010 political leadership in Kenya has been unable to adapt to the devolved system of governance, which calls for transparency and accountability.  Instead, leaders continue to engage in a way that is combative and confrontational, punctuated with negative political posturing. 

Kenyan Domestic Politics Heat Up

Foreign Policy published on 3 September 2014 an article titled "Back to the Trenches" by Ken Opalo and Ngala Chome.  It argues that Kenya has returned to bare-knuckle politics complete with open discussion of ethnic exclusion in government and emotionally charged mass rallies.  As a result, the political temperature has been raised to a level not seen since 2007, which ended up with ethnic clashes.