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The Political Economy of Reforms in Kenya: The Post-2007 Election Violence and a New Constitution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2013

Karuti Kanyinga  and
James D. Long
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Abstract:

This article explores the package of “Agenda item 4” reforms undertaken by the Kenyan government in the mediation process following the 2007–8 postelection violence, including those relating to long-standing issues over constitutional revision. It situates the previous lack of reforms within Kenya's political economy and demonstrates how political and economic interests thwarted progress and produced the postelection crisis. It also examines the more recent attempts to address reforms following the signing of the National Accord and the creation of a power-sharing government, and finds strong public support for constitutional revision. It concludes that these pressures from below, along with a realignment of political interests and institutional change from power-sharing, helped support reform.

Résumé:

Résumé:

Cet article explore le groupement de réformes surnommé “Agenda 4” mis en place par le gouvernement du Kenya lors du processus de médiation ayant eu lieu à la suite des manifestations de violence suivant les élections en 2007-2008, y compris celles qui sont liées à de vieux contentieux sur les changements constitutionnels. Cet article replace le manque de réformes préalable dans le contexte économique spécifique du Kenya, et démontre comment certains intêrêts politiques et économiques avaient bloqué l'avancée des réformes et conduit le pays à une crise après les élections. Cet article examine également les tentatives les plus récentes de gestion des problèmes liés à la signature de l'Accord National et à la création d'un gouvernement à pouvoir partagé, et signale qu'il existe un soutien fort du public pour les révisions constitutionnelles mises en æuvre. II s'en conclut que les pressions populaires, ajoutées au raccord entre les intérêts politiques et les changements institutionnels, ont contribué à soutenir les réformes effectuées.

Type
ASR Focus: The Political Economy of Democratic Reform in Kenya
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 55 , Issue 1 , April 2012 , pp. 31 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2012

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