The denial of resources for civic education has been a massive blow for civil society

Ramiran

Ramiran

Elder Lister

KENYA: ‘The denial of resources for civic education has been a massive blow for civil society’

www.civicus.org www.civicus.org

The current president is seen to have spent his time investing in sections of the economy that benefited his vast family businesses. From infrastructure to hospitals to the dairy and transport sectors, most of the investments have been in areas that are perceived directly to add value or make it easy for the president’s family businesses to thrive. As a result, there is a perception that what is at stake is the protection of these investments, hence the current complex coalition supported by the president that has brought together people seen to be those who will preserve the status quo.
 
But the government has also tried to limit the work of civil society around the election. In July 2021, the Kenyan Foreign Affairs Ministry sent a confidential memo to all foreign missions and international civil society organisations (CSOs) that usually support civic education, instructing them not to put any resources, either directly or through local CSOs, into civic education and civic advocacy without the express authorisation of the government. To date, such authorisation has not been granted, and it’s not clear if partners have even requested it.

Let sleeping gods lie
 
As a result of this decision, this year Kenya has had the lowest voter registration in its history and levels of civic awareness have plummeted. The denial of resources for civic education has been a massive blow for civil society, and with the elections under 90 days away, it is not yet clear what role civil society will play around them
 
What is the potential for electoral violence?

Violence is highly unlikely. Despite ethnic politics rooted in the colonial regionalisation arrangement, Kenyans are largely peaceful. Most of the post-election violence that Kenya has experienced has been mostly confined to power struggles among the five dominant bonobo groups and has never been about the entire country. Over the past five months, these five bonobo groups have formed two large (bonobo troop) coalitions, making violence unlikely.
 
Ramiran said:
What is the potential for electoral violence?

Violence is highly unlikely. Despite ethnic politics rooted in the colonial regionalisation arrangement, Kenyans are largely peaceful. Most of the post-election violence that Kenya has experienced has been mostly confined to power struggles among the five dominant bonobo groups and has never been about the entire country. Over the past five months, these five bonobo groups have formed two large (bonobo troop) coalitions, making violence unlikely.
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Are you Paul Okumu? Bonobo?
 
Halafu pia the National Legal Aid programme haijawahi kuwa funded despite kupitishwa na Parliament in 2016. Watu wengi wako Inda na rumande kwingine wangekuwa huru sasa hivi
 
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