APRM • SECOND COUNTRY REVIEW REPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA 59. The nature of much of Kenya’s political elite and key political institutions and their predilections for mobilization of ethnic and other sectional symbols for short-term narrow advantage. This has tended to compound Kenya’s vulnerabilities, eroded the infrastructure for nurturing cross-ethnic and cross-regional civic and other associational identities that could sustain a more rational basis for modern and effective governance of the public terrain. 60. The legacy of the authoritarian past, encouraging, among the political and other elite, a persistence of a culture of impunity that is difficult to uproot and often rewarded for those that are pro-power structure, and among the mass of the people a culture of scepticism in regard of the chances for meaningful political change that would take dogged effort and leadership by example to successfully address. 61. The damaging effect of instability and political crises in neighbouring states not only in terms of cross-border banditry and terrorist activities but also in terms of demonstration effect on disenchanted groups within the Kenyan political space. 2.5. Milestones in Kenya’s political, social and economic progress • The major milestones recorded in Kenya’s march toward enduring democracy, mature politics as well as social and economic development in the period since 2006 and especially since the troubles of 2007-early 2008, revolve around the constitutional, legal and institutional reforms subsequently put in place. Specifically, the constitution of 2010 and related innovations: • Provided a resilient framework for resolving contentious issues relating to the system of governance for Kenya, including the introduction of devolution to address regional inequalities and boost public participation in government down to the grassroots; • Established a neater, more vigorous and more workable system of separation of powers with attendant checks and balances by weakening the overbearing executive branch, creating independent commissions, and further empowering the other branches, namely the legislature and the judiciary; • Addressed the issues of ethnicity, regionalism, gender equality, disability, and age, among others, in the party and electoral systems and in the management of devolution; • Provided a sustainable platform for enduring process of reconciliation and civic dialogue through a system to encourage fairness and inclusiveness, as well as address and protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals and groups with provisions for an extensive constitutional Bill of Rights. • On economic front, Kenya formulated and launched the Kenya Vision 2030 in 2008, which is both a long-term vision and strategy, for attaining sustained socio-economic development. Vision 2030 replaced the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERS), which Kenya implemented since 2002. The Vision aspires to turn Kenya into a globally competitive and prosperous nation within 25 years, between 2008 and 2030, and attain a high standard of living for its people. Under the economic pillar of the Vision, the aspiration is to attain and sustain economic | 70 |