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WHY DEMOCRACY MATTERS June 2017
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Strategy Brief: (Why) does Democracy Matter?
The global trend toward populist and nationalist political forces described in Freedom House’s
2017 Freedom in the World report has been blamed by some as a reaction to the perceived
failure of democracy, as many major democracies worldwide face destabilizing global and
national events.1 As a democratic country in East Africa, Kenya is a critical force for
democracy and human rights promotion among its unstable and backsliding neighbors.
However, President Uhuru Kenyatta has also exploited citizens’ growing fear of terrorism,
among other things, to justify increased surveillance, tighter border security, restricted civic
space, and in some cases, brutal violence as a means to greater citizen safety. The Government
of Kenya has reacted to violent extremism by violating the fundamental rights of Kenyans
suspected of terrorism and instituting harsh security laws, such as the Security Laws
(Amendment) Act of 2014, used to restrict operating space for civil society and media.
In the midst of a global backlash against democratic values, we as a global civil society need
to play a stronger role in countering the narrative that democracy has failed by
demonstrating its many benefits. The diversity, transparency, and respect for human rights that
are the bedrock of a democratic society contribute to the kind of development that makes
nations, and citizens, more prosperous and more secure. Globally, populist leaders’ claims to
be the eradicators of all social ills may tempt citizens to give power to a consolidated executive,
but studies by the Fund for Peace and Freedom House show that participatory and inclusive
democracy keeps citizens safer from extremism because it puts clear limits on the power of
government and enables citizens to choose their leaders. In this sense, democracy matters
because it makes citizens happier, more financially secure, safer, and better able to dictate what
happens in their society.
Indeed, Kenya’s 2010 Constitution is founded on and seeks to advance participatory
democracy. Article 10 identifies public participation as one of the principles of governance.
Almost all chapters of the Constitution put emphasis on and link public participation to
effective delivery of services by public institutions. Devolution of power from the national to
47 county governments is one of the mechanisms designed to promote public participation.
One of the objects of devolved government is “to give powers of self-governance to the people
and enhance the participation of the people in the exercise of the powers of the State and in
making decisions affecting them.”
In pre-election Kenya, where campaign narratives are becoming increasingly reductionist and
divisive in advance of the August 2017 elections, there is a critical need to articulate why
democracy matters to the everyday lives of citizens. Freedom House has carried out two online
public perception surveys to better understand the priorities of Kenyan citizens. This brief will
highlight the most recent survey findings, but it is important to note that the 2,779 respondents
1 Freedom in the World 2017. Freedom House, 2017, https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-
world-2017.
WHY DEMOCRACY MATTERS June 2017
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to the 2015 survey identified security, corruption and poverty as the greatest challenges
that Kenya faces.2 Civil society is in a unique position to not only address these citizen
priorities but also make a strong argument for why democracy is a necessary precondition for
effectively and sustainably tackling them; thus far, however, we have collectively been unable
to convincingly make this case.
Democracy Matters
There is a wealth of information available to civil society that shows that participatory
democracy has a positive impact on exactly the areas Kenyan citizens identified as priorities.
Democracy makes citizens safer through respect for due process and rule of law, which make
the rules clear for both citizens and armed forces. According to the Fund for Peace’s Fragile
State Index, Countries ranked “Free” by Freedom House’s Freedom in the World are rated
more stable than “Partly Free” and “Not Free” countries. Kenya, however, is losing some of its
economic gains to declining tourism over concerns about extremism and terrorism.3 Human
Rights Watch confirms that human rights abuses by Kenyan armed forces in the name of
security are rampant, increasing grievances against the government and driving radicalization.4
Far from making citizens safer, these actions undermine accountability; it is impossible for
citizens to abide by rules that are subject to interpretation and whim. The government’s efforts
to undermine organizations monitoring security sector abuses (such as HAKI Africa and
MUHURI) violates free speech, closes democratic space and removes yet another check on the
actions of actors that could make Kenya less safe.
The transparency, accountability, and rule of law that come with a respect for human rights and
democracy are also key to attacking corruption. Democratic institutions, such as independent
media and courts that are free from political pressure, help establish clear rules that contribute
to a less risky (and more attractive) business environment.5 In Kenya, independent media has
been instrumental in exposing corruption and accountability issues, such the lack of
independence exhibited by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission during the 2016
investigation into missing National Youth Service funds.6 Incidents of corruption undermine
business confidence and independent commissions, media, courts, and civil society are
essential to exposing and prosecuting these cases. The fact that “Free” countries outperform
2 “Kenya: Public Support for Human Rights Groups.” Freedom House, 10 Dec 2015,
https://freedomhouse.org/article/kenya-public-support-human-rights-groups. 3 Bellamy, Carol. “Preventing violent extremism and promoting human development for all: A critical issue on
the global development agenda.” Human Development Report 2016. United Nations Development Programme,
2016, pp.158, http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2016_human_development_report.pdf. 4 “Deaths and Disappearances: Abuses in Counterterrorism Operations in Nairobi and in Northeastern Kenya.”
Human Rights Watch, 19 Jul 2016, https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/07/19/deaths-and-disappearances/abuses-
counterterrorism-operations-nairobi-and. 5 Doing Business 2017. World Bank Group,
http://www.doingbusiness.org/~/media/WBG/DoingBusiness/Documents/Annual-Reports/English/DB17-
Chapters/DB17-About-Doing-Business.pdf. 6 “Governance Assessment, Kenya: January 2013 – July 2016.” Freedom House, 2016, pp. 12-14,
https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/Governance%20Assessment%20Kenya%202016.pdf
WHY DEMOCRACY MATTERS June 2017
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Partly Free and Not Free countries in every one of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business
Index indicators shows a clear correlation between democratic governance and the business
sector’s need for sustainable economic growth.
Kenya was ranked one of the most improved economies in the 2015/16 Doing Business report
after implementing regulatory reforms making it easier to conduct business.7 The Jubilee
Manifesto prioritizes making the country a strong trading partner in Africa, but economic gains
are tenuous in the absence of real democracy. A true democracy’s respect for rule of law
makes it a predictable, and thereby more stable, economic environment for risk-averse
investors; Kenyan authorities’ discretional application of the law undermines predictability,
which can make the country less attractive to business. The use of extrajudicial executions and
enforced disappearance as a tactic to counter security threats, for example, could create a
volatile business environment and frighten away foreign and local investors, thus undermining
the administration’s stated commitment to socioeconomic development. Kenya need only look
to the Philippines for an example of the economic ramifications of a government playing to
citizens’ fears and disregarding the rule of law.8
Democracy, therefore, also contributes to economic
growth: “Free” countries outperform sub-Saharan
Africa’s top economies on the World Bank’s Ease of
Doing Business Index because democratic factors such
as independence of the judiciary, independent anti-
corruption bodies and predictable law enforcement
have a positive influence on the business environment.9
When corruption is kept at bay by transparency and
respect for the rule of law, this ultimately reduces
poverty and increases overall well-being.
When compared to the UN’s Human Development Index, “Free” countries enjoy higher rates
of human development, including better education, life expectancy, and GNI per capita. The
Economist’s Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index finds a correlation between democracy,
well-being, and happiness: nine of 10 countries ranked highest in terms of democratic values
also scored well on levels of wellbeing (as defined by the OECD) and levels of happiness (as
defined by the World Happiness report).10
7 “Kenya.” Doing Business 2017. World Bank Group,
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/kenya. 8 Woody, Christopher. “The Philippines' bloody crackdown on drugs is now harming the country's economy.”
Business Insider, 21 September 2016, http://www.businessinsider.com/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-violence-
scaring-investors-hurting-economy-2016-9?IR=T 9 Begović, Boris. “How Democracy Influences Growth.” Center for International Private Enterprise, 1 Jul 2013,
http://www.cipe.org/publications/detail/how-democracy-influences-growth. 10 Bourke, Emily and Laura Brierley Newton. “Democracy: How important is it to our happiness?” ABC News,
17 Mar 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-17/democracy-does-it-make-us-happy/8363656?pfm=ms.
Sound economic policies, solid
democratic institutions responsive to
the needs of the people, and improved
infrastructure are the basis for
sustained economic growth, poverty
eradication, and employment creation.
Santiago Commitment
Community of Democracies, 2015
WHY DEMOCRACY MATTERS June 2017
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Making the Case for Democracy
Civil society needs to harness this data supporting the respect for democracy and rule of law
and share it in a meaningful way to create a demand for democracy among citizens. In early
2017, Freedom House carried out a public opinion survey (a follow-up to the 2015 survey
mentioned above), which gathered nearly 2,700 Kenyan citizens’ input on why democracy
matters, how it impacts their lives, how citizens engage in political processes outside of
elections, and how they view human rights groups. While Freedom House’s 2015 survey found
that Kenyan citizens look to human rights groups to help them address their priority concerns,
including security, corruption, and poverty, its 2017 survey shows that citizens do not see the
connection between democracy and these issues. Select findings from the survey are
included below and all data is included as an annex to this brief.
In response to a question on
the benefits of democracy in
Kenya, the 2017 survey
respondents tended to
prioritize their ability to
engage in the political
process rather than linking
democracy to priority issue
areas. While it is
unsurprising that 56% of
respondents indicated that
the best part about Kenya
being a democracy is that
they are free to participate
in political and social
activities, their vote counts,
or that they are free to exercise their beliefs, it is noteworthy that only 14% said they are safer
or have better economic opportunities as a result of Kenya’s democracy. Similarly, only 21%
of respondents said that their biggest concern if Kenya were not a democracy would be
decreased safety or increased poverty. This disconnect between citizen’s priority issues and the
benefits of democracy indicates a weakness in overall support for democracy since citizens do
not connect the political system to their lived reality. Civil society has an important role to
play in clearly making the link between democracy and security and economic wellbeing for
citizens. In the following section, Freedom House will offer some concrete recommendations
on how to do this.
Free to exercise my
beliefs14%
Safety8%
Better Economic
Opportunities6%My Opinions
are heard13%
Free participation in
the political process
27%
My vote counts
15%
None of the above16%
The BEST part about Kenya being a democracy is...
WHY DEMOCRACY MATTERS June 2017
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In addition, more than one
fourth of respondents said that
their principle role in
democracy was to vote every
five years. This prioritization
of elections is also often
reflected in civil society’s
work and donors’ priorities.
However, voting alone is not
indicative of a strong, vibrant
democracy and this ignores
the further 61% of
respondents who believe their
principle role lies in running
for office, speaking out against injustice, exposing corruption, or holding their leaders
accountable. The survey findings show that Kenyans are open to political engagement in many
forms. However, in response to the question, “which of the following most prevents you from
engaging with your elected leaders?”, 18% of respondents said no one is organizing a way for
them to engage and 15% said they didn’t know how. In this sense, civil society has not
capitalized on citizens’ willingness to engage beyond elections and there remains a gap
between citizens’ ideas of what it means to live in a democracy and their perceived ability to
effect meaningful change. This gap becomes even more evident in responses to the question,
“what is the most effective way to hold your leaders accountable?” Thirty-four percent of
respondents answered that voting in elections is the most effective way to hold leaders
accountable. Nevertheless, the survey found that other avenues for engagement on
accountability, such as participation in civil society advocacy (19%), have some support from
citizens on which civil society ought to capitalize.
The feedback from this
survey contains a valuable
lesson for civil society and
donors regarding their role
between elections: after
years of heavy focus on
voter education, what is
truly needed in Kenya now
is broad civic education
and engagement outside of
the election period.
Broadening the scope of
civic engagement beyond the
election season by
expanding opportunities for citizens to attend constituent meetings, engage on social media,
Vote every five years
26%
Hold officials accountable
14%
Expose corruption
10%
Speak out against
injustice34%
Run for elected office
3%
Mind my own business
14%
As a Kenyan, what is your principle role in democracy?
Social Media12%
Protests and Demonstrations
6%
Attend constituent
meetings10%
Participate in Civil Society
advocacy19%
Vote in elections
34%
Write letters and sign petitions
4%
Don't know15%
What is the MOST effective way to hold your leaders accountable?
WHY DEMOCRACY MATTERS June 2017
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write letters and sign petitions, or participate in advocacy or demonstrations, will deepen
citizens’ engagement in democracy and bridge the gap between democratic ideas and actual
practice. Furthermore, expanding democratic values through education or cultural activities
could go a long way in creating a critical mass of defenders of those values. The foundation for
this already exists: in response to the question, “What would concern you the most if Kenya
were not a democracy,” 41% said they would not be free to exercise their rights.
Not only is there demand for
civil society organizations to
expand their engagement,
but these organizations also
have support. Fifty-four
percent of respondents said
that their perception of
human rights groups has
improved in the last year,
with 30% saying it improved
a bit and 24% saying it
improved a lot. These
responses indicate that the
Kenyatta administration’s
narrative against civil
society has not significantly influenced public opinion and that civil society organizations still
have a window of opportunity to meaningfully engage with citizens on their priority issues.
This could go a long way towards securing Kenya’s democratic and constitutional gains, but
civil society must acknowledge in its advocacy that democracy matters because it brings with
it positive things that most citizens want, such as happiness, better business, safety, and the
chance to have a voice.
Recommendations for Civil Society
Based on the findings of Freedom House’s 2015 and 2017 perception surveys and drawing on
the evidence linking democracy and citizen priority areas, Freedom House submits the
following suggestions to our partners in Kenyan civil society.
Try to focus less on the inherent value of democracy and illustrate to citizens the link
between democracy and these benefits – as demonstrated above, the link between
democracy and security is not clear or nuanced; if citizens don’t see democracy as
linked to security, why will they want democracy? Similarly, if citizens do not see a
connection between democracy and their own economic wellbeing, will they be
concerned if Kenya becomes less democratic?
Engage with citizens who are eager to have an impact – 34% of survey respondents
believed that as Kenyans, their principle role in democracy was to speak out against
injustice. Only 12% of respondents believed that ‘democracy does not change
Yes, improved a lot24%
Yes, improved a bit30%
No28%
Yes, worsened a bit8%
Yes, worsened a lot10%
Over the last year, has your perception of human rights groups changed?
WHY DEMOCRACY MATTERS June 2017
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anything’, which means the vast majority of Kenyans see at least a theoretical benefit
to living in a democratic country. However, when asked what human rights activities
they had participated in most often, the largest number of survey respondents said they
had not participated in any. Civil society organizations must harness this energy by
increasing their visibility, stepping up outreach to citizens, and showing people how to
effect change in between elections.
Connect people to their leaders outside of elections – many citizens don’t know how
to engage with their leaders to hold them accountable (15%) and believe that no one is
organizing a way for them to do so (18%). There is a clear opening for civil society
organizations to facilitate connections between interested citizens and their elected
officials through the lens of accountability. The evidence shows that civil society should
continue to organize county-level dialogues or town hall-style meetings between
citizens and their leaders and secure commitments from leaders on priority issues for
citizens. Show citizens that their voice matters even more between elections than it does
at the voting booth.
Tailor your message to different communities – security, poverty and corruption are
national-level priorities as shown by Freedom House’s 2015 survey. However, making
the case for the link between these issues and democracy is not a “one size fits all”
endeavor. For example, safety, particularly related to violent extremism, is likely more
of a concern for those in Kenya’s Northeast and Coast. Framing democracy promotion
not only as a moral obligation but as a security measure will resonate more with these
populations. On the other hand, the business community will be particularly swayed by
arguments for and actions in favor of prosperity. In making the case for democracy, be
aware of your audience and adapt your messaging accordingly.
Work to bolster civil society organizations’ own legitimacy, relevance and
accountability to further improve the perceptions of the Kenyan people vis-à-vis the
government. Civil society organizations must be beyond reproach in terms of their
systems to ensure transparency, accountability, and fair practices. Civil society must
set an example for the Government of Kenya and show Kenyan citizens that it embodies
the ideals it demands of the authorities.
Push for more programs and policies to hold government authorities accountable for
better service delivery, demonstrating to citizens that civil society is working in the
public interest. Civil society organizations, and particularly human rights defenders, are
most vulnerable when they lack public support. Freedom House’s surveys have shown
that perceptions of human rights organizations are more positive than might be expected
given the anti-civil society rhetoric from the Kenyatta administration. Civil society
must continue to serve, and be seen, as a voice against injustice and as an advocate for
citizens in order to maintain public support.
ANNEX 1: SURVEY FINDINGS
Annex 1: Survey Findings
The survey reflects the opinions of a representative sample of 2,695 Kenyans, interviewed
February 10-25, 2017. The weighted and unweighted percentages are shown here. The weighted
number is shown in order to ensure that the survey results are not just reflective of young males
(the primary demographic that responded). Therefore, the analysis balances the raw data against
the most recent Kenyan Census data for age and gender to ensure that the results are more
representative of Kenyan demographics.
RIWI Corporation of Toronto, Canada, in partnership with Freedom House, conducted this
survey using Random Domain Intercept Technology (RDIT). For more information on RIWI,
visit: https://riwi.com/.
Q1 - What is your age and gender?
Age Group Respondents Percent Weighted
16-24 1808 39% 29%
25-34 1788 39% 28%
35-44 551 12% 20%
45-54 237 5% 11%
55-64 154 3% 7%
65 and over 93 2% 5%
TOTAL 4631
Gender Respondents Percent Weighted
Male 3434 74% 50%
Female 1197 26% 50%
TOTAL 4631
Q2 - The BEST part about Kenya being a democracy is…
Respondents Percent Weighted
I am free to exercise my beliefs 384 13% 14%
I am safer 233 8% 8%
I have better economic opportunities 183 6% 6%
My opinions are heard and respected 385 13% 13%
I am free to participate in political and
social activities
782 27% 27%
My vote counts 462 16% 15%
None of the above 436 15% 16%
TOTAL 2865
Q3 - What would concern you the MOST if Kenya were not a democracy…
Respondents Percent Weighted
I would not be safe 386 14% 14%
I would be poorer than I am now 196 7% 7%
ANNEX 1: SURVEY FINDINGS
I would not be free to exercise my rights 1139 41% 41%
My opinion would not be heard 502 18% 17%
Democracy doesn’t change anything 287 10% 12%
Kenya is not a democracy 274 10% 9%
TOTAL 2784
Q4 - What are these people doing?
Photo courtesy of Inuka Kenya
Respondents Percent Weighted
Trying to overthrow the government 170 6% 6%
Exercising their right to protest 1838 65% 63%
Calling for accountability 646 23% 23%
Disturbing the peace 185 7% 7%
TOTAL 2839
Q5 - In your opinion, what is the MOST effective way to hold your leaders accountable?
Respondents Percent Weighted
Social media 334 12% 12%
Protests/demonstrations 205 7% 6%
Attend constituent meetings 221 8% 10%
Participate in civil society advocacy
activities
559 20% 19%
Vote in elections 978 35% 34%
Write letters and sign petitions 113 4% 4%
Don’t know 386 14% 15%
TOTAL 2796
ANNEX 1: SURVEY FINDINGS
Q6 - As a Kenyan, what is your principle role in democracy?
Respondents Percent Weighted
To vote every 5 years 705 25% 26%
To hold officials accountable 353 12% 14%
To expose corruption 271 10% 10%
To speak out against injustice 1019 36% 34%
To run for elected office 80 3% 3%
To mind my own business 404 14% 14%
TOTAL 2832
Q7 - Which of the following MOST prevents you from engaging with your elected leaders?
Respondents Percent Weighted
I do not know how to contact them 390 14% 15%
I do not think they will listen 433 16% 16%
I think they are too corrupt 707 26% 25%
I do not think they are powerful 109 4% 4%
I do not think they impact my life 420 16% 16%
I am afraid to contact them 129 5% 5%
No one is organizing a way for me to
interact
507 19% 18%
TOTAL 2695
Q8 - Which human rights groups' activities have you participated in MOST often?
Respondents Percent Weighted
Civic education 376 13% 12%
Demonstrations or marches 152 5% 5%
Signed a petition 125 4% 5%
Volunteer work 657 23% 22%
Community forums 394 14% 13%
Online campaigns 249 9% 8%
Other (open ended) 169 6% 7%
Have not participated 744 26% 27%
TOTAL 2866
Q9 - Over the last year, has your perception of human rights groups changed?
Respondents Percent Weighted
Yes, improved a lot 753 26% 24%
Yes, improved a bit 882 30% 30%
No 789 27% 28%
Yes, worsened a bit 208 7% 8%
Yes, worsened a lot 288 10% 10%
TOTAL 2920
ANNEX 1: SURVEY FINDINGS
Q10 - What is the highest level of education you have attained?
Respondents Percent Weighted
KCPE 184 10% 11%
KCSE 602 33% 28%
College diploma 411 22% 24%
University degree 510 28% 26%
Master’s degree or PhD 131 7% 10%
TOTAL 1838
Q11 - Which of the following regions do you live in?
Respondents Percent Weighted
Central 177 10% 9%
Coast 146 8% 9%
Eastern 140 8% 7%
North Eastern 37 2% 2%
Nyanza 179 10% 9%
Rift Valley 413 22% 20%
Western 146 8% 7%
Nairobi 612 33% 36%
TOTAL 1850
Q12 - Which of the following counties do you live in?
Note: this question was narrowly asked based on the respondent’s region and was not asked of
those who selected Nairobi.
Respondents Percent Weighted
Nyandarua 17 1% 1%
Nyeri 30 2% 2%
Kirinyaga 28 2% 3%
Muranga 31 3% 3%
Kiambu 70 6% 6%
Kwale 17 1% 2%
Kilifi 23 2% 2%
Tana River 7 1% 1%
Lamu 4 0% 1%
Taita Taveta 14 1% 1%
Mombasa 80 7% 8%
Marsabit 3 0% 0%
Isiolo 8 1% 1%
Meru 33 3% 2%
Tharaka Nithi 8 1% 1%
Embu 17 1% 1%
Kitui 19 2% 1%
Machakos 32 3% 2%
Makueni 19 2% 2%
ANNEX 1: SURVEY FINDINGS
Garissa 12 1% 1%
Wajir 9 1% 1%
Mandera 14 1% 1%
Siaya 36 3% 3%
Kisumu 52 4% 4%
Homa Bay 23 2% 1%
Migori 14 1% 1%
Kisii 39 3% 3%
Nyamira 16 1% 2%
Turkana 13 1% 1%
West Pokot 14 1% 1%
Samburu 1 0% 0%
Trans Nzoia 31 3% 3%
Uasin Gishu 71 6% 6%
Elgeyo Marakwet 21 2% 2%
Nandi 28 2% 2%
Baringo 13 1% 1%
Laikipia 14 1% 1%
Nakuru 81 7% 6%
Narok 24 2% 2%
Kajiado 17 1% 1%
Kericho 41 3% 3%
Bomet 41 3% 3%
Kakamega 56 5% 4%
Vihiga 12 1% 1%
Bungoma 52 4% 4%
Busia 22 2% 2%
TOTAL 1227
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