POWER SHARING IN KENYA: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES

The document evaluates the Grand Coalition Government (GCG) in Kenya, established after the 2007 post-election violence. While it notes institutional progress in justice and constitutional reform, it highlights failures in addressing root causes of conflict, such as land disputes and economic marginalization, and notes a sharp decline in economic growth from 7% to 1.7%.

• The Grand Coalition Government (GCG) achieved several institutional milestones between 2008 and 2009, including the establishment of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) via the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Act of 2008, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, and the Witness Protection Unit. Other progress included the creation of the Interim Independent Election Commission (IIEC), the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC), and a National Task Force on Police Reforms appointed in May 2009.
• The power-sharing agreement failed to address the fundamental drivers of the 2007 post-election violence, specifically long-term economic marginalization, resource-based conflicts regarding land, and the 'ethnicisation' of politics. The document argues that since 1963, the centralization of power among only two ethnic groups—the Kikuyu and Kalenjin—has fueled ethnic suspicion and unrest.
• The post-election crisis severely impacted Kenya's economy and international standing. Economic growth dropped from 7% at the time of the election to 1.7% according to a recently released Economic Survey, which the report suggests will exacerbate high unemployment rates.
• The GCG is described as being in a 'crisis mode,' characterized by internal bickering, political jostling, and an inability to combat corruption. The report notes that the coalition was superimposed on the existing legal system and failed to lay a sufficient foundation for national reconciliation, as evidenced by the resignation of Ministers and disputes over amnesty.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2009). POWER SHARING IN KENYA: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/KENYADSEM050609.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. POWER SHARING IN KENYA: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES. 2009. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/KENYADSEM050609.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=POWER SHARING IN KENYA: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES |date=4 June 2009 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/KENYADSEM050609.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2009power, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{POWER SHARING IN KENYA: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = jun, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/KENYADSEM050609.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }