Geoffrey Lugano

Power Politics and Post Conflict State Recovery: the Kenyan Experience: Power Sharing, Elite Fragmentation and Post Conflict State Reconstruction: Lessons from Kenya Geoffrey Lugano

This book presents Kenya's experience with power sharing as the "tool kit" for conflict resolution following the 2007/2008 post election violence (PEV) and the subsequent post conflict reconstruction processes. The author gives an account of the intrigues within the power sharing arrangement; a phenomenon that he characterizes and describes as 'elite fragmentation'. Consequently, the fragmented elite engaged in power struggles that were detrimental to the post conflict reconstruction agenda that they had 'agreed on' during the peace process that was negotiated by Kofi Annan. The study provides an interesting analysis of the Kenyan political culture , using Mill's Power elite theory. It goes further to give an account of the state of the reform process; particularly on institutional reform, reconciliation,transitional justice and management of the electoral process under the ODM/PNU coalition government from 2008- 2012. Possible policy proposals that can guide an effective post conflict recovery framework are advanced at the end of the book. The book provides a good understanding of peacekeeping in a typical African neo - patrimonial political market place (with Kenya as a case study)