Fierce Rivalries Shape, Threaten Kenyan Politics

Election violence in 2007 gave way to an uneasy coalition between Kenyan PM Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki, but that move seems only to have transformed the fighting on the streets into squabbling in the capital. Now, "Kenya does not have a functioning executive at all, just an unholy alliance of fierce rivals," reports the Economist.

"Unfortunately for Kenya, all that holds the coalition together now is mutual greed and pressure from abroad," as corruption scandals plague every party and overpaid government officials pick fights rather than lead. The only bright spot on the horizon may be Kofi Annan's vow to have the ICC prosecute several politicians accused of helping spur the election violence.
(More Kenya stories.)