Challenges and Opportunities of the African Union Peer Review Mechanism (AUPRM) in Enhancing Electoral Democracy Kenya Since 2003
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Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IOSR Journal of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS)
Abstract
he Post-Cold War African Union (AU) adopted a good number of initiatives to address the seemingly
perennial problems of poverty, underdevelopment, bad governance, corruption, instability and political decay,
with an overarching intention of speeding up development in the continent. One notable initiative in this regard
was the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). APRM’s ideological architecture represented a shift in the
ideological thinking of African leaders as they sought to reverse the trend of lack of accountability, political
despotism and corruption in an effort to embrace and enhance good governance and electoral democracy.
Despite, the application of Peer Reviews, conflicts are still rampant and endless threat to peace and security in
the continent. Although Kenya has undergone two APRM self-assessment processes, electoral violence and
electoral malpractice still bedevils the country. The objective of this study was to evaluate the challenges and
opportunities of APRM in the promotion of Electoral Democracy in Kenya. The study was guided by Political
Realism, Innovative Diplomatic and Neo-Functionalism Theories. The study employed descriptive research
design. The target population included the actors and stakeholders in the APRM process. The sample size was
48. Purposive, census, stratified random sampling were used to determine samples. The questionnaire, interview
schedule and FGD were used with Quantitative data being analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative
data responses were themed and frequencies done. The study established that political interference, inadequate
staff, influence of partners, resource constrains, low publicity, delays and postponements, lack of evaluation,
lack of an enforcement mechanism and voluntary participation as the main challenges facing APPM in Kenya.
The study also identifies opportunities such APRM being benchmark for good governance on international
standards, it gives a chance to evaluate governance, APRM helps in mainstreaming of the civil society on
governance. Furthermore, it shows cases the country and gives the country an opportunity to evaluate national
initiatives and enhance state corporation. The study recommended an all-inclusive process to limit state
influence over the APRM process at all stages citing that APRM should be all inclusive. The study also
recommended the adoption of an enforcement mechanism to enable implementation. The findings would be
beneficial to partner-states of APRM with regard to promotion of Electoral Democracy.