Time for US To Speak Frankly with Kenyan Government

African Arguments published on 27 February 2018 a commentary titled "How and Why the US Should Intervene in Kenya" by Mark Bellamy and Johnnie Carson, both former US ambassadors to Kenya.

Bellamy and Carson argue that the US must make crystal clear privately to the government of Kenya that there are limits to what the US will tolerate if Kenya continues to flaunt the rule of law.

Kenya's 2017 Election Results in New Activism

The Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published on 12 February 2018 an assessment titled "Kenya's 2017 Election and New Wave of Activism" by Adams Oloo, University of Nairobi.

The author argues that the fraught 2017 electoral process intensified tensions between Kenyan civil society and the country's political and state institutions, even as it empowered a new wave of activists determined to keep their leaders in check. New activist groups have ratcheted up the pressure on the Uhuru Kenyatta government and sharpened their criticism of its perceived electoral indiscretions.

Kenya's Presidential Election

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 2 October 2017 a commentary titled "How to Ensure a Credible, Peaceful Presidential Vote in Kenya."

The ICG argues that it is essential the election take place by the 1 November 2017 deadline. In addition, both political parties must accept important electoral reforms worked out with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Kenya's Election: Failure of Technology or Governance?

World Politics Review published on 3 October 2017 an analysis titled "Is Kenya's Election Debacle a Failure of Technology or Good Governance?" by Jeffrey Smith, executive director of Vanguard Africa, and Arthur Gwagwa, Sub-Saharan Africa Cyber Regionalism and Elections project.

The authors suggest the argument that technological challenges doomed the Kenyan election overlooks the lack of good governance and respect for democratic rights in Kenya, which caused the election to fall well short of democratic standards in the first place.

Rerun of Kenya's Presidential Election

The International Crisis Group published on 2 October 2017 a brief titled "How to Ensure a Credible, Peaceful Presidential Vote in Kenya."

Following the surprise annulment of August's presidential election, Kenya must hold a new election by 1 November. But rising tensions and the threat of a boycott by Raila Odinga's National Super Alliance could result in missing the vote's deadline and risk a constitutional crisis.

Looming Issues in Kenya's 2017 Elections

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 28 July 2016 a commentary titled "Hate Speech and Ethnic Tension Ahead of Kenya's 2017 Elections" by Peter Aling'o, ISS Nairobi. He argues that ethnic tensions, in particular, are reaching dangerous levels given the persistent use of hate speech from both political parties: the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) and the Jubilee Coalition.

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.