post-election crisis in Kenya

post-election crisis in Kenya
Title	Post-election crisis in Kenya
Partof	2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
Date	December 2007 – February 2008
Place	Kenya
Causes	Disputed presidential election results, ethnic tensions, land disputes, economic inequality
Goals	Annulment of election results, power-sharing agreement, constitutional reform
Methods	Protests, political violence, ethnic violence, police brutality
Result	Formation of Grand Coalition Government, Waki Commission, 2010 Kenyan constitutional referendum
Side1	Orange Democratic Movement, Supporters (primarily Luo, Kalenjin, Luhya)
Side2	Party of National Unity, Kenya Police, Supporters (primarily Kikuyu)
Side3	International mediation by Kofi Annan, African Union, United Nations
Casualties	1,100–1,500+ killed, 500,000–600,000 internally displaced

post-election crisis in Kenya was a period of intense political violence, ethnic conflict, and human rights abuses following the disputed announcement of the 2007 Kenyan general election results. The Electoral Commission of Kenya declared incumbent Mwai Kibaki of the Party of National Unity the winner over challenger Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement, triggering widespread allegations of electoral fraud. The subsequent violence, which lasted from late December 2007 into February 2008, constituted the worst civil unrest in the country since independence, severely damaging Kenya's reputation for regional stability and necessitating major international mediation.

Background and causes

The crisis had deep roots in longstanding ethnic tensions, particularly between the Kikuyu community and other groups like the Luo and Kalenjin, exacerbated by fierce competition for political power and resources. Historical grievances over land tenure and perceived economic inequality, often framed along ethnic lines, created a volatile social landscape. The political climate was further polarized by the contentious 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum, which had solidified the rivalry between Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga. The structure of the presidency under the old constitution concentrated immense power in the office, making electoral victory a high-stakes, winner-take-all contest that fueled desperation and the potential for electoral fraud.

Timeline of events

Violence erupted immediately after the Electoral Commission of Kenya chairman Samuel Kivuitu declared Mwai Kibaki the winner on December 30, 2007, with swift condemnation from international observers like the European Union and the United States. Initial protests by supporters of the Orange Democratic Movement in Nairobi slums like Kibera and in western cities such as Kisumu were met with a severe crackdown by the Kenya Police. The conflict rapidly evolved into organized ethnic violence, notably in the Rift Valley Province, where militias from the Kalenjin and Luo communities attacked Kikuyu residents, leading to horrific incidents like the burning of a church in Eldoret. Retaliatory attacks by Kikuyu gangs, such as the Mungiki, further escalated the cycle of violence throughout January 2008.

Government and international response

The initial response of the Kibaki administration was largely characterized by denial and a heavy-handed security approach, deploying the Kenya Police and later the Kenya Army in restive areas. Mounting pressure from the African Union, the United Nations, and key foreign governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, led to the appointment of a panel of eminent African personalities led by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The Kofi Annan-led mediation, supported by former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and former South African First Lady Graça Machel, resulted in the signing of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act on February 28, 2008, which created a Grand Coalition Government with Mwai Kibaki as President and Raila Odinga as Prime Minister.

Human rights and violence

The crisis was marked by severe human rights violations perpetrated by both civilian mobs and state security forces. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International documented widespread extrajudicial killings, police brutality, sexual violence, and the systematic destruction of property. The Kenya Police were repeatedly accused of using excessive lethal force against unarmed protesters. The ethnic violence resulted in the internal displacement of between 500,000 and 600,000 people, with many fleeing to makeshift IDP camps. In response to these atrocities, the Waki Commission, officially the Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence, was established to investigate the crimes and recommended the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute perpetrators.

Political and constitutional reforms

A central outcome of the Kofi Annan mediation was a commitment to fundamental political reform, addressing the root causes of the conflict. This led to the formation of the Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review, which drafted a new supreme law. The subsequent 2010 Kenyan constitutional referendum approved a new Constitution of Kenya that devolved power to county governments, strengthened human rights protections, and diluted the immense authority of the presidency. Other key reforms included the overhaul of the Electoral Commission of Kenya and the creation of new institutions like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

Aftermath and legacy

The Grand Coalition Government remained fragile but managed to oversee the critical constitutional reform process. The legacy of the violence continued through lengthy judicial processes, including the International Criminal Court investigations, which initially indicted six suspects including Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto for crimes against humanity, though the cases ultimately collapsed. The crisis permanently altered Kenya's political landscape, making ethnic accommodation and electoral reform central issues in all subsequent elections, such as the 2013 Kenyan general election and 2017 Kenyan general election. The trauma of the period serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of ethnic politics and electoral injustice in the nation's history.

Category:2007 in Kenya Category:2008 in Kenya Category:Political history of Kenya Category:Election riots