The post-9/11 international context influenced the 2002 election in subtle but significant ways. Western governments, concerned about state fragility and instability in the Horn of Africa region, had strategic interests in Kenya's stability and integration into the international economic system. The U.S., still in the early period of its "War on Terror" and concerned about potential terrorist safe havens, valued Kenya as a regional partner and a stable, cooperative state. This strategic interest meant that Western governments supported a transition away from Moi's declining regime toward a government perceived as more credible and competent.
International financial institutions, including the World Bank and IMF, signaled before the election that a NARC government would receive substantial support, while a continued KANU government would face continued pressure and resource constraints. This donor positioning influenced both investor sentiment and opposition confidence that a NARC victory would bring immediate economic benefits. The international context thus shifted substantively from 1997, when donors had been more willing to work pragmatically with Moi's government despite governance concerns. By 2002, donors had concluded that supporting a post-Moi transition served their interests better than attempting to reform Moi's declining regime.
See Also
- 2002 Election
- International relations Kenya
- Donor influence Kenya politics
- 11 geopolitics
- IMF and Kenya
Sources
- World Bank (2002). "Kenya: Structural Adjustment Program Review." Washington DC: World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/kenya
- International IDEA (2003). "The 2002 General Elections in Kenya: Findings and Recommendations." https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/2002-general-elections-kenya
- Electoral Commission of Kenya (2003). "The 2002 General Elections in Kenya: Official Results." Nairobi: ECK. https://www.eck.or.ke/public-documents/election-results
- Branch, Daniel (2011). "Kenya: Between Hope and Despair, 1992-2011." Yale University Press. https://www.yalebooks.com