The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Kenyan Politics

After the 2017 elections, many Kenyans reported relief at their return to normalcy from what had been a turbulent time. However, months later, the country remains divided; in August 2017, the National Police Service was criticized for using disproportionate force in quelling protests particularly in opposition stronghold regions. There were, also, rumours of tribal militia being used to settle ethnic scores through the police force. Additionally, the national opposition party, the National Super Alliance (NASA), declared its transition from a national party to a “national resistance movement” shortly after the annulment of the elections by the Supreme Court, citing authoritarian tendencies from the government and a lack of adequate reforms by the electoral commission. NASA has since rejected the results of the second election and, on the 30th of January, carried out a “mock inauguration” of its own presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, placing the country in a heightened state of tension.

While the future of Kenyan politics seems uncertain, the general election was not all doom and gloom. Electoral pluralism, voter enthusiasm and judicial autonomy were all positive highlights during the elections. Overall analysis of Kenya’s 2017 elections, therefore, requires a balanced approach.