Hobbling along to Pay-offs: The Kenya Grand Coalition Government

Abstract

This article analyses the performance of the Grand Coalition government in Kenya in relation to whether the coalition has fulfilled ‘consociational conditions’ to return the country to stability. The article seeks to answer the question: how is the coalition government holding together? What are the main dynamics within the coalition government and what conditions are responsible for these dynamics? The discussion begins with an overview of theories of coalition government, paying particular emphasis to Lijphart’s framework of ‘consociation democracy.’ Next to this, the article discusses Kenya’s experience with coalition government and power sharing in general, starting with power sharing arrangements under the NARC government