(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of people in Kenya think the sitting coalition government has not accomplished anything so far, according to a poll by Steadman Research Services. 70 per cent of respondents share this perception of the current administration.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of people in Kenya think the sitting coalition government has not accomplished anything so far, according to a poll by Steadman Research Services. 70 per cent of respondents share this perception of the current administration.
Less than 10 per cent of respondents think the coalition administration has made progress in education, dealing with political violence or basic services.
Kenyans voted in presidential and legislative elections in December 2007. Official results gave incumbent Mwai Kibaki of the Party of National Unity (PNU) 46.64 per cent of all cast ballots, followed by opposition candidate Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) with 44.28 per cent.
Odinga’s camp complained about irregularities in the ballot count, claiming that Kibaki’s total was inflated by 300,000 votes. The allegations practically paralyzed Kenyan politics, and saw the return of violent incidents that had marred the electoral campaign.
By late Febuary 2008, post-election violence in Kenya had claimed more than 1,000 lives. On Feb. 28—following the mediation by former United Nations (UN) secretary-general Kofi Annan—Kibaki and Odinga reached a preliminary power-sharing deal. The terms entailed the creation of the post of prime minister, who would "coordinate and supervise" government affairs. Kenya would also have two deputy prime ministers, one nominated by each member of the coalition. Kibaki remained as president, and Odinga became prime minister.
Last month, Philip Alston, an investigator with the United Nations (UN) who was invited to Kenya by the government, published a report implicating the country’s police in human rights abuses and several killings. Alston called for the destitution of Kenyan police commissioner Hussein Ali and the resignation of Kenyan attorney general Amos Wako.
Government spokesperson Alfred Mutua referred to the report, saying, "The government is concerned that such a report has been released without having sought a government response in accordance to the principles of natural justice, and international practice."
Polling Data
What have been the main achievements of the coalition government so far? (Several answers allowed)
|
None |
70% |
|
Improving education |
8% |
|
Dealing with post-election violence |
6% |
|
Delivery of services |
5% |
|
National reconciliation |
3% |
|
Food security |
3% |
|
Distribution of relief |
3% |
|
Fight against corruption |
2% |
|
Poverty alleviation |
2% |
|
Improvement of security |
1% |
|
Economy |
1% |
|
Distribution of resources |
1% |
|
Health |
1% |
Source: Steadman Research Services
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,021 Kenyan adults, conducted from Feb. 18 to Feb. 20, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
