Kenya

About this book

The violence that erupted in Kenya following the disputed outcome of the 2007 presidential election shook the country to its core and challenged the complacent view of many in the international community that Kenya was not a country to "worry about". For the past two decades, political life in Kenya has been characterized by a long-term struggle between two opposing forces: the "dinosaurs" who wish to cling to the old style of identity politics, and the "modernizers" who wish to break out of that mold, establishing a more inclusive and accountable political system. For now the outcome is uncertain. Growing economic inequalities, the influx of Somali refugees, the impact of climate change and environmental degradation, and rampant urbanization are all emerging issues that have the potential to destabilize the country in the long term.