Making fear switch sides? : accountability for human rights in the context of Kenyan elections

Abstract: Human Rights Accountability is a property of the relationship between rulers and citi-zens. When it exists, it prevents violations of Human Rights by enabling citizens to in-fluence decision-making. The concept needs clarification in order to reach its full poten-tial as a tool for planning and analysis. Misunderstanding can have dangerous conse-quences in the failure to prevent political violence, electoral fraud and more. Through a Grounded Theory Analysis of efforts to strengthen accountability mecha-nisms after the 2008 Post-Election Violence in Kenya and their positive and negative effects on the electoral situation in 2013, a new theoretical framework is developed. It concludes that achieving Human Rights Accountability depends on claims being active-ly made, being supported with enough power, by channeling the struggle to achieve right-objects through the processes of accountability, with enough efficiency that they actually make a difference in the power relationship. Right-objects should not be delivered by reversing the accountability relationship by suppressing other rights. Then the fight for Human Rights Accountability is not over and the struggle for justice must continue.