Urban violence in Kenya's transition to pluralist politics, 1982-1992 created by Godwin R. Murunga

his article examines urban conflict in Kenya in the context of the country's transition to pluralist politics between 1982 and 1992. It explores the causes of urban violence and its impact on democratization, using case illustrations from Nairobi, Nakuru and Kisumu. It argues that two factors in particular contributed to urban violence: the changing nature of the State and increasing political repression on the one hand, and the enforcement of structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) and their impact on the other. In particular, the stalemate between the government's anti-reform stance and the opposing pro-reform groups led to increasing tensions in the urban areas. Furthermore, the Kenya Police and various criminal elements encouraged violent confrontation.