Kenyans doubt the government’s commitment to wide ranging reforms outlined in the National Accord. The public rated coalition divisions and politics as major threats to stability, according to a report by South Consulting, a firm hired to monitor the Grand Coalition Government’s progress. The report says the slow pace in land reforms, corruption, writing a new constitution and youth unemployment were uppermost on Kenyans’ minds.
The momentum for radical reforms has been reduced. The speed towards another General Election is increasing, yet attempts to address some of the factors that led to unprecedented political violence are not evident, the report, the second since the establishment of the grand coalition, says. The report, to be discussed by the Serena Team on June 30, further faults the process used to set up various reform bodies. The process of recruiting members of the IIEC was highly politicized, with members selected on ethnic backgrounds. leaders have forgotten the principles that shaped these recommendations, the desire to fight impunity and de-ethniccise the political landscape.” In particular, the report cites debate over Mr Cecil Miller’s bid to chair the IIEC, saying it had ‘ethnic over-tones”. However, the report says 42 per cent of Kenyans are confident that the IIEC can hold free and fair elections. And 60 per cent of Kenyans do not think they will have a new constitution next year. Avast majority, 77 per cent, say the coalition government is not working well together. Interestingly, 70 per cent are satisfied with the working relationship between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Rails Odinga. The chances of violence if the coalition collapses are also very high. While more than a third of the respondents say they will support a collapse, close to half will either hold demonstrations or attack other communities.
