The Impact of Coalition Government on Political, Economic and Social Development of Postconflict Societies:case of Kenya,2008-2012
Abstract
The search for a solution to the post-election violence which followed the disputed
presidential elections of 2007 in Kenya led to the signing of the =Agreement on the Principles of
Partnership of the Coalition Government‘. This, in turn, led to the enactment of the National
Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008 as the roadmap for ending the political crisis. Under this
peace agreement a Coalition Government comprising a ―peace cabinet‖ of 40 ministers and 50
assistant ministers was formed. It ushered in, for the first time, the executive power sharing at
elite level.
This research analyses the impacts of this Coalition Government on the socio-political and
socio-economic development with a view to establishing its contribution to sustainable peace and
democracy to post-conflict societies. Specifically, the study set out to establish the relationship
between the Coalition Government and political stability, economic and social development,
determine its effectiveness in governance and visualize what it can contribute to subsequent
peaceful elections.
The research finds that Coalition Government restored and guaranteed political stability as the
cornerstone of economic and social development. It restored democratic governance and
achieved both the short-term and long-term measures, first by stopping the violence, settling the
internally displaced persons and secondly by addressing the long standing reform agendas set out
in the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation. Besides, the research also finds that the
positive effects have not been felt due to the challenges impeding the operations of the Coalition
Government. This includes justice issues, economic inequalities and the tendency towards
dictatorship of the majority that has enhanced the regional ethnic based cleavages.
Publisher
University of Nairobi, The Institute Of Diplomacy And International Studies