The General Elections in Kenya, 2007

This book is a translation of a special issue of IFRA's journal Les Cahiers d'Afrique de l'Est, n°37, and of a collection of articles from Politique Africaine, n°109. These both focused on the General Elections in Kenya at the end of 2007. The on-site presence of several researchers (Bernard Calas, Anne Cussac, Dominique Connan, Musambayi Katumanga, Jérôme Lafargue, Patrick Mutahi), fieldwork carried out by others between December 2007 and February 2008 (Florence Brisset-Foucault, Ronan Porhel, Brice Rambaud), as well as a good knowledge of the country by researchers on regular visits (Claire Médard, Hervé Maupeu), were all ingredients that led to the production of hundreds of pages within a limited period. These articles were actually published in April 2008. Some political information has not been updated but this changes nothing in terms of the initial aim of taking into account and analyzing the events that set the country on fire for several weeks. However, since April 2008, the situation-to all intents and purposes-stabilized. The coalition government took shape, with Mwai Kibaki remaining President while Raila Odinga became the Prime. The country, more so than ever, is truly in suspense. This includes the donors, who had made it possible for Kenya to restore a semblance of peace. But to what point will they be interested in investing in the country and to protect their place in it?The tone of this book may, undoubtedly, not sound highly optimistic. However, this should not dampen the unanimous sense of hope in the country that the political and social situation will once more be more than just tolerable. The 2007 general elections in Kenya led to major unrest. The aim of this book is to examine and analyse the events that set the country on fire for several weeks. The situation has largely stabilised since April 2008, when the articles collected in this book were first individually published. Some political information has been updated post April 2008. The coalition government took shape with Mwai Kibaki remaining President while Raila Odinga became the Prime Minister. The country however remains in suspense, as do the donors who had made it possible for Kenya to restore a semblance of peace. But to what point will they be interested in investing in the country and to protect their place in it? The collection comprises a translation of a special issue of Les Cahiers d'Afrique de l'Est, no. 37, the journal of the Institut Fran?ais de Recherche en Afrique (IFRA) and a collection of articles from Politique Africaine, no. 109. Whilst the tone of the book is not highly optimistic, the thrust is not intended to dampen the unanimous sense of hope in the country that the political and social situation will once more be more than just tolerable Front Cover Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction A country in suspense: Political fallouts and popular anxiety Kenya in turmoil: Post-election violence and precarious pacification PART I: THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN “Kibaki Tena?” The challenges of a campaign Caught between information and condemnation: The Kenyan media in the electoral campaigns of December 2007 The electoral campaign on television: Communication strategies and models of democracy The polling debate in Kenya’s 2007 elections PART II: VIOLENCE IN THE POST-ELECTION PERIOD From rigging to violence: Mapping of political regression Revisiting post-election violence The economic consequences of the political crisis Institutional shortfalls and a political crisis The role of religious institutions The human rights civil society: Social powerlessness and the quest forpolitical legitimacy Elected leaders, militias and prophets: Violence in Mount Elgon (2006–2008) PART III: FINAL REMARKS Key issues in disentangling the Kenyan crisis: Evictions, autochthony and land privatization Guidelines for contributors Back Cover