THE ROLE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN DEMOCRATIZING GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA; A CASE STUDY OF KENYA AND BOTSWANA

Abstract

Human rights play a key role in democratizing governance. The OAU and later the AU have developed key democratic governance frameworks. However, despite these efforts, democratic governance seems to fledge across the continent. Key issues among them corruption, abuse of power, poverty, economic stagnation, globalized diseases including Ebola and HIV, climate change, mutilation of constitutions to extend presidential term limits, blatant violations of basic human rights, facades in the name of elections among other key issues continue to challenge each crop of leader in Africa. The main objective of this study was the assess and examine the role of human rights in democratizing governance in Africa with a case study of Kenya and Botswana. Specific objectives focused on an analysis of the democratic governance frameworks in Africa, Kenya and Botswana with successes and failures of these frameworks. The study combined both primary and secondary data to assess and examine the aspects of democratic governance. The study findings indicate that despite the numerous frameworks, there has not been much progress in addressing some of the key issues. Challenges like corruption continue to be raised, the external debt continues to rise, elections continue to be contested, Africa continues to suffer from the scourge of HIV and Ebola as well as poverty related infections, use of currency as a political tool which has affected the prospects for a truly integrated Africa, Africa’s odious debt which has been compounded by weak economies across different member states and climate change among other issues. To a large extend, African leadership lacks the political will to implement key democratic governance ideals. This is compounded by a lack of a shared sovereignty. However, there remains hope in countries like Botswana and Mauritius which have been a democracy since independence. The pervasive environment compounded by unrest has hampered efforts to truly democratize. In the 1980s and 90s, Africa’s democratic governance was manifested through the abandonment of multi-party to single party states, the weakening of political systems including political parties and other key institutions of governance such as those vested with powers to address key issues like corruption, the vicious suppression of any dissidents including forced exiles and vulnerability of power through coups. The study concludes that there is need to enhance the democratization process in Africa by promotion of human rights. Key human rights frameworks must be promoted and their provisions upheld. In addition, the study recommends the need for political will to ensure that human rights are enhanced which will promote democratic governance.