Wangui Kinyua Blogs

  Maybe We Can Shift Course: Elections and the Economy in Kenya Elections are unpredictable, and so is the economy during these periods. On one hand, democratic transitions can usher in improved governance, stronger institutions, and policy reforms that support economic growth. On the other, elections can just as easily produce pitiable economic performance due to abrupt changes in government policies, political systems, and investor confidence, particularly when electoral processes disturb peace, law, and order. In Kenya, where elections are intensely competitive and politically consequential, the relationship between electoral politics and economic stability is both visible and worth interrogating. Research shows that the political environment of a democratic country can influence the performance of the national economy in several ways. Public expenditure levels, investment flows, and social protection measures are among the most measurable indicators of this relationship, mean...