Issue and Opponent: On February 16, 1990, the body of the popular minister of foreign affairs, Robert Ouko, was found near his home. President Daniel Arap Moi promised that a full investigation would be conducted, but many believed that the government was involved in Ouko’a death. Thus, the public accused President Arap Moi of covering up the true circumstances surrounding Ouko’s death.
Dilemma Action: In late February 1990, protestors in Kenya gathered in downtown Nairobi to demand full accountability for the killing of Ouko. Pro-government rallies are the only form of political demonstration that is legal in Kenya. However, one student demonstrator put it best: “Normally the Kenyan government only allows pro-government rallies. But the government was in an awkward position: If it had tried to squelch the demonstrations, the public might have interpreted that as part of a coverup.” The mass gathering put President Arap Moi in a tough position: allow the people to accuse him of covering up the death without addressing it or covering up the demonstrations to avoid letting the truth come out.
Outcomes: President Arap Moi called for an investigation into the death of Ouko. Several critical leaders were arrested in connection with the death, and President Arap Moi was summoned for legal questioning. He was then forced to allow multi-party elections, which ultimately met the demands of the protestors for more democracy and insight into the assassination of Robert Ouko.