Kenya’s Electoral Crisis: The Political Culture of Tricksters and Masks

Prof. Goldsmith digs into how Kenya’s electoral crises are more than just contested votes — they’re deeply rooted in political culture, in theatrical performances of power, and in masks (literal and metaphorical) that hide the underlying problems.

Key Themes & Insights

1. Political Culture as Invisible Infrastructure
   Goldsmith begins by distinguishing political culture from mere institutions or legal frameworks. He frames it as a set of beliefs, values, habits, and unspoken rules that guide how people behave in politics. These are intangible but powerful — colorless and odorless “oxygen” that sustains or suffocates public life. theelephant.info

2. The Archetypes: Tricksters & Masks

   • Tricksters: Goldsmith draws on mythic archetypes (e.g. from African folklore) to explain how political actors often behave with cunning, play‐acting, and deception. The trickster figure is a way of making sense of political actors who manipulate rules and narratives to retain power. theelephant.info

   • Masks: These are the roles or facades political figures wear — through speeches, legal appearances, commissions, or public rituals — masking deeper dysfunctions or power imbalances. For example, during the 2017 elections, oversight bodies, commissions, or election administrators sometimes appeared impartial but with masks that hid political bias or undercurrents. theelephant.info

3. Electoral Process & Performative Politics
   Goldsmith describes how Kenya’s elections have become staged spectacles. Campaigns are almost theatrical, involving not just rallies but symbolic ceremonies, high‐drama narratives, appeals to identity, spectacle, and theatrical displays of legitimacy. These are more than entertainment — they affect trust, legitimacy, and how people view power. theelephant.info

4. Erosion of Institutions and Rule of Law
   Institutions designed to mediate power — electoral commissions, courts, constitutional bodies — are often undermined by political culture. Goldsmith points out that when these institutions fail to live up to their mandates (or are seen to be compromised), public faith dwindles. The “mask” of impartiality gets cracked. theelephant.info

5. Public Perception & Disappointment
   Among the people, there is growing cynicism. Goldsmith notes that many citizens perceive political leaders and institutions as more symbolic than substantive. Even when courts rule, or when election results are disputed, the belief is that the real mask is still on — and the outcomes often feel pre-determined. theelephant.info

6. Recent Precedents & the 2017 Elections
   The 2017 elections are used as a case study. The Supreme Court’s involvement, the way election officials behaved, how accusations of fraud or irregularities were handled — all these highlight how the game of masks and tricksters has political consequences. The public’s expectations vs what is delivered (or exposes of what is hidden) becomes central. theelephant.info

7. Call for Cultural Awareness & Institutional Renewal
   Goldsmith argues that legal reforms alone are not enough — political culture must be addressed. That requires educating citizens, strengthening civic institutions, ensuring accountability, and cultivating transparency so that “masks” lose their power and “performances” become less about show and more about substance. theelephant.info

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