Democratic Paradox: Kenya, which saw its Supreme Court settle electoral disputes in 2022, promises to accompany Haiti towards free and democratic elections while Kenyans are denied the right to peaceful protest.
The political situations in Kenya and Haiti reveal striking paradoxes in the management of electoral events and democratic stability, even though these two countries are at different stages in their political trajectories.
Kenya Presidential Elections, August 2022
In August 2022, Kenya went through a turbulent election period marked by the victory of William Ruto. The Kenyan Supreme Court confirmed this victory with a unanimous decision, rejecting the accusations of electoral fraud brought by his main rival, Raila Odinga.
The decision not only strengthened the legitimacy of the election, but also illustrated the independence of the Kenyan judiciary. Political analyst Javas Bigambo noted that the judicial process strengthened democracy in Kenya, proving that “ultimately, it is the people who decide who their leaders are.”
However, Raila Odinga’s defeat marked a political tragedy for him and his supporters. An iconic figure in Kenya’s struggle for democracy, Raila Odinga never became president despite five attempts. His failure in 2022 echoes the story of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president, who also never became president.
Kenyan troops deployed to Haiti
In Haiti, on the other hand, the head of the Kenyan mission promises on July 8, 2024, “good democratic elections” in a context of extreme violence and instability. Since the arrival of Kenyan forces in Haiti, a multinational effort led by Kenya has aimed to restore stability and prepare the ground for “democratic” elections. The head of the mission, Officer Godfrey Otunge, expressed his determination to work closely with the Haitian authorities and international partners for “a new Haiti.”
However, the mission, backed by the United Nations and the United States, faces serious criticism over allegations of human rights abuses by Kenyan police forces during recent anti-budget protests. In addition, the mission must juggle issues of Haitian sovereignty and respect for culture, while trying to stabilize the country ahead of elections scheduled for February 2026.
The paradox lies in the contrast between Kenya’s judicial and democratic stability, exemplified by the resolution of the 2022 elections, and the same country’s role in the attempt to stabilize and democratize another country, Haiti. While Kenya has demonstrated the strength of its democratic institutions, it now finds itself leading an international mission to establish similar conditions in Haiti, a country in the grip of serious “planned” unrest.
The two countries share common characteristics such as political violence and social instability. In Kenya, political rivalries and electoral conflicts have often led to tensions, but institutions have been able to manage these crises. In Haiti, gang violence and the absence of a strong state apparatus have necessitated international intervention, highlighting the inability of national institutions to manage the crisis on their own, thus compromising any successful realization of free and democratic elections, because who pays calls the shots. Stop lying to yourself !
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