Published November 30, 2011 | By Ed Nagle and Raphaël Jaeger

While Kenya has made positive strides towards political stability and corruption reduction, both issues continue to be threats to its nascent democracy. Single party rule from 1963 to 2002 has only recently been replaced by a multi-party system and broad-based coalitions. Following inter-tribal political violence in the wake of the 2007 national elections, Kenya successfully passed a new constitution in 2010. Its passage marks a tremendous opportunity for Kenya. In particular, it is targeted at reducing the control of the provincial governments and shifting that authority to individual counties in the hopes of reducing corruption. Adding a second chamber to parliament and a bill of rights are also very positive steps but political affiliations and voting patterns remain strongly tied to tribal identities.