Elections in Kenya at the end of 2007 triggered widespread violence and challenged the international community to help prevent a wider tragedy.

The Department of Political Affairs deployed a team to Nairobi to support the mediation efforts of the African Union’s Panel of Eminent African Personalities, led by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The team provided political and technical support on a wide range of issues including mediation strategy, electoral and constitutional matters. The crisis was defused with the signing of a power-sharing agreement on 28 February 2008.

DPA also participates in a U.N. Headquarters-based Task Force on Kenya established in April 2008 to review and strengthen U.N. support to national and local capacities for conflict resolution and reconciliation, particularly at the community level with civil society organizations.

(The United Nations’ support role in the resolution of the Kenyan electoral crisis was highlighted in the Summer-Fall 2008 issue of DPA’s bulletin, Politically Speaking.)