The 2017 General Election in Kenya: Re-evaluating r2p’s First Test Case 10 Years On

Abstract

As Kenyans went to the polls on 8 August, protests over the results brought back memories of the disputed election 10 years prior. While the level of violence and contestation did not reach the same magnitude as a decade ago, recent events have illuminated the tentative nature of the peace that was established in the aftermath of the 2007–08 post-election crisis. While there is no doubt that the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (kndr) process was essential in averting further bloodshed in Kenya – what is often overlooked are the significant costs associated with the 2008 agreements. By prioritising stability over democracy, enabling impunity over accountability, and addressing the symptoms of violence as opposed to more proximate causes, the kndr process left many of the issues that facilitated the 2007 unrest unresolved. Consequently, the underlying causes of instability in Kenya remain.