Power to the people

Can the election be a gateway to a new Kenya, leaving behind tribal violence and introducing truly grassroots democracy?

Milly Lwanga, of Kenya''s National Cohesion and Integration Commission

The first election under Kenya’s new consitution is said to be indicative of the huge transition the country is going through.

One highlight of the new constitution is devolution, which activists say will improve accountability of those parliamentarians who take home some of the largest salaries for elected officials anywhere in the world. But there is still a long way to go.

“Devolution in the constitution has yet to bring services on the side of the people, has yet to bring resources on the side of the people and has yet to bring power onto the side of the people,” says Elias Wakhisi, of Kenya’s Institute for Social Accountability.

This video is part of IRIN’s “No Ordinary Election” series. Catch up with the whole special series here.

Source: IRIN