Moi's Flawed Mandate: The Crisis Continues in Kenya

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Periodical article

Title:	Moi's Flawed Mandate: The Crisis Continues in Kenya
Author:	Southall, Roger J.
Year:	1998
Periodical:	Review of African Political Economy
Volume:	25
Issue:	75
Period:	March
Pages:	101-111
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Kenya
Subjects:	elections 1997 Politics and Government
External links:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03056249808704295 http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4339A90CE4EF5041D134
Abstract:	President Moi and his ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) party swept to a further potential five-year term of office as a result of the latest general election, which was conducted on 29 December 1997. However, as in the 1992 election, the government's mandate must be regarded as highly flawed, highly controversial and thoroughly divisive of Kenyan society. This is shown by analysis of the background to the election, the election campaign, the shifting alliances amongst the opposition, the conduct of the election, and the election results. The author argues that, had the opposition been able to unite behind a single presidential candidate, or more realistically, if the Kikuyu-Luo blocs had been able to forge a united front, Moi would have lost the election. However, for political transition to succeed, politicians need to look beyond their ethnic base, and State powerholders need to be subjected to effective accountability. Bibliogr.