Issues in Kenya Today

One third-world country as rich in possibilities as it is burdened with problems is Kenya, the former British colony now enjoying its 46th year of independence. Its government is a combination presidential and parliamentary system, with a President, currently Mwai Kibaki, elected directly and a Prime Minister, currently Raila Odinga, selected as the leader of the political party holding the most seats in the legislature, or parliament. Supposedly the two leaders, who are members of different ethnic groups as well as representatives of different political parties, share the powers of government. This somewhat awkward arrangement was devised by Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, in a successful mediation effort to curtail political and ethnic violence which traumatized the entire country during and after the closely contested 2007 national election. Neck and neck in that situation were Kibaki and Odinga, now presumed allies instead of rivals, at least until the next nationwide polling event in 2012.

Tourism, once a flourishing industry in Kenya, has slowed significantly thanks to the worldwide recession. But the wildlife and the natural beauty of the country remain, so visitors will return in force some day. In the meantime, the government is pushing forward efforts to improve the country's rather dilapidated infrastructure. Additionally, plans to encourage mobile phone usage and to develop fiber optic communication systems are in the works. Like tourism, the agriculture industry is also in a downturn at the moment, due to low demand for export products like tea, coffee, and flowers, but also due to drought and continuing ethnic violence in the remote countryside. The political will to deal with ethnic issues appears to be lacking at this time.

Some outside observers consider corruption to be the most serious concern for the country; while others, including leading non-governmental organizations like Amnesty International, point to a culture of impunity which allows the existence of police death squads, gang crime, expanding slums, and increasing wealth disparity. The corruption issue may impact foreign investment, although the World Bank continues to fund projects in Kenya targeting health, education, and development. The gang problem involves the Mungiki, a group attractive to young men and engaging in Mafia-type activities.

Kofi Annan's relationship with the country is still active as he awaits evidence of sincere efforts to prosecute those responsible for the riots and killings related to the 2007 election. The deadline, extended a couple of times already, is now set for August 2009. If the politicians cannot agree on establishing a tribunal or on some other way of investigating the terrible events, then Annan is prepared to submit a list of suspects to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. This list of suspects is derived from an official report on the violence by Philip Waki, a respected judge based in South Africa. Probably the politicians, especially those who may have reason to fear that they have been named, hope to delay action on the Waki report until after the 2012 election season.

On a more positive note, Kenya's criminal justice system has recently been entrusted with prosecution of Somali pirates. Under agreements with the United States, Great Britain, and the European Union, Kenya has accepted the cases and has incarcerated those convicted. Life imprisonment is a potential punishment for crimes on the high seas. Kenya, of course as an East African country with an Indian Ocean coastline and a major port at Mombasa, has a vested interest in keeping the shipping lanes open and safe for international companies.

Joyce Mulama, "Politics: Dueling Visions of Kenya Play to Doubting Public", Inter Press Service/Highbeam
Erik Ombok, "World Bank to Loan Kenya $82 Million", Bloomberg News
"Drought said fuelling inter-clan feuds in northeastern Kenya", BBC Monitoring/AccessMyLibrary
Jeffrey Gettleman, "Kenyan Town Strikes Back Against Its Tormentors", New York Times
"Annan gives Kenya court deadline", BBC News
Derek Kilner, "Rights Group says Kenya's Slums are 'Human Rights Black Hole'", VOA News
Jeffrey Gettleman, "The West Turns to Kenya as Piracy Criminal Court", New York Times