*Correction to ‘The Kenya Solution’

In a previous post, I suggested that a parliamentary vote of no confidence would solve the current political crisis in Kenya. The passing of a no confidence motion would force parliament to dissolve itself or the president to resign; either way another election would have to be held. My central premise in this argument centered on the required number of votes to win a no confidence vote – a simple majority from my research. Unfortunately, my research, and a number of online Kenyan constitution texts, failed me. According to reliable journalistic sources such the BBC and the East African Standard newspaper, a 2/3^rd majority is required to dissolve parliament and force an election rerun. This fact renders my previous analysis wildly inaccurate. Simply put, the opposition and it’s allies have no where near the required number of votes (138 out of 207) to win a no confidence motion. So that’s that. Sorry.

And that's jus' the tip.

References

Kenyan diplomatic moves intensify – BBC News

Kenya’s Kibaki: let’s form a unity government – Telegraph

Commentary on the Kenya Constitution – East African Standard