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.

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.