Danish coalition inspires Kenyan polotics

August 2024: Old animosities can be overcome, and finding common ground can be constructive, leading to solutions. This is one of the key realizations that 15 Kenyan politicians took home after a week in Denmark, where they closely observed Danish democracy, from the grassroots level in parties, through cooperative city councils, to the Danish coalition government, which consists of three very different parties.

By Charlotte Wognsen,
Freelance journalist, KommaKontoret

The fact that the 15 politicians from seven different parties can even sit in the same room says a lot about Kenya's development. Despite challenges, the country is a modern society with freedom of speech, multiple parties, a constitution, and regular elections. However, it is also a nation where distrust has recently hindered progress.

"A few years ago, I couldn’t even have a cup of coffee with a politician from another party. If we were seen together, it was considered betrayal," says Torome Nalengoyo from the Orange Democratic Movement.

In 2004, the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) was formed to create a common platform for the country’s parties. Since then, CMD has brought parties together, mediated, and upheld democratic dialogue, giving more population groups influence, especially women and youth.

Through the cross-political Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy (DIPD), Danish parties support democracy development in third-world countries. For 13 years, the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme (DLDP) has partnered with CMD.

Click here to read an interview with the CMD leader.

The task in Kenya is significant and crucial, so in 2023, Venstre teamed up with the Social Democrats, Socialist People’s Party (SF / The Green Left), and the Conservative People’s Party in a partnership focused on strengthening local party organizations, local policy development, and cross-party dialogue through local meetings and public forums.

From Arch-Enemies to Government Partners

The beautiful Greenland Room at Christiansborg Castle – home of the Danish Parliament, Folketinget – set the stage for the delegation's meeting with Venstre’s party secretary, Kristian Nørgaard, and the Social Democrats' party secretary, Lasse Ryberg. Surrounded by paintings of icebergs, the 15 Kenyans witnessed firsthand the historic thaw in Danish politics.

Venstre is Denmark's Liberal Party, and neither of the two party secretaries hid the many years of animosity. However, since 2022, they have been in government together.

"The situation in Danish politics made us both willing to bend and find common solutions. We chose to take responsibility, even though it has been challenging. None of us get everything we want, but we all get something we desire," was the message that left a strong impression on Alfred Kaibung’a, party secretary for the Devolution Empowerment Party.

"I am so impressed that Venstre and the Social Democrats have managed to focus on issues rather than personalities. It shows that the country does not belong to the government, but to everyone. And that you have chosen trust and cooperation with a focus on the common good."

"In Kenya, leaders occupy too much space, and the people's agenda too little. Once top politicians are elected, they forget about the people. In Denmark, you seem to have more integrity: You listen to the citizens and seek to do what you have promised," says Alfred Kaibung’a.

Policy Development – From the Ground Up

Kristian Nørgaard (Venstre) and Lasse Ryberg (Social Democrats) explained their party organizations and how policies often grow from the ground up through local party branches. Both parties find and nominate candidates locally – even parliamentary candidates. Locally, the parties have "tentacles" reaching into school boards, parish councils, and user boards.

The delegation asked how political content can be maintained consistently from local to national levels:

"It’s important that a party has an ideological core and values that are recognizable at all levels," said Lasse Ryberg.

Venstre holds the record with 360 local party branches, and Kristian Nørgaard explained that the foundation for these associations is local activity, through which they also recruit volunteers for campaigns.

Youth in Revolt

The week’s program took the Kenyan delegation across Denmark, from Aarhus, through Samsø’s town hall, to municipal politics in Odense, then Copenhagen, and finally to Møn, which for the tenth year in a row hosted the Provincial People’s Meeting.

The police and prison service had a stand, and outside, two impressively tall police horses patrolled the street.

"Denmark is very different. Here, I get sweets and smiles from the police. In Kenya, I get tear gas," quipped David Nyaga from The Service Party.

Just weeks before the delegation’s visit, violent unrest broke out in Kenya, where the country's youth, particularly Generation Z (born after 1995), expressed their dissatisfaction with a regime full of old men lacking long-term visions for the country.

"Now, something is really happening in Kenya. The youth are waking up," says an enthusiastic Annabel Mwangi from The Service Party, as she eagerly comments on all the trees she has seen and the open water that, in her eyes, paints Denmark in shades of green and blue.

She is 31 years old and part of a youth movement that uses social media in their struggle:

"Before, we were afraid of the authorities, who often beat those who organized demonstrations or spoke out against the government. But with WhatsApp and videos on TikTok, the debate runs unfiltered, and meetings and demonstrations are organized without the police being able to figure out who is behind them."

"In Kenya, we have copied your People’s Meeting (Folkemødet at the island of Bornholm), and it has activated many young people. More dare to speak out, and more want dialogue, even though we are ideologically different. More want to challenge the corruption in Kenya, and cross-party discussions now focus on our country."

The importance of youth in politics is also clear to Alfred Kaibung’a, who takes inspiration from Denmark back home.

"In Africa, we unfortunately tend to give people hollow titles without substance. In your parties, the chairperson of the youth party plays an important role and has a voice in the main bodies. I want to create positions with real substance for the young. Our party needs a vital youth section, so we truly engage the young," says the party secretary for the Devolution Empowerment Party.

Africa Has Become a Battleground

The People’s Meeting on Møn inspires the Kenyan politicians, who, through translation, follow the discussion in the big tent on the square, where Venstre’s Bertel Haarder and then-Minister for Social Affairs and Housing, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil (S), discuss volunteerism. For example, where are the boundaries between the state and private initiatives?

After the meeting, Bertel Haarder answers the Kenyans' questions, and he is impressed by their engagement.

Venstre’s foreign policy spokesperson, Michael Aastrup-Jensen, and the Social Democrats' global spokesperson, Gunvor Wibroe, had a similar experience the day before when they met the delegation at Christiansborg Castle.

Here, they talked about the government's Africa strategy, which has since been published.
Read more here.

Denmark wants to invest more in Africa and help educate the population. Michael Aastrup-Jensen began:

"Africa has become a battleground between East and West. Through so-called investments, the Russians and Chinese are seizing power – and resources. They suppress freedom and deliberately fuel political destabilization. Against this, the West stands: We offer you free trade and tools so you can shape your own future."

The geopolitical analysis was not commented on in the plenary, but in the informal talk afterward, the Kenyans acknowledged that the Venstre politician had a point. Several criticized China and Russia, but none wanted to be named.

Gunvor Wibroe emphasized that the Africa strategy is broad. The continent needs help to handle the effects of climate change. Trade is important, and the security policy dimension must be included.

"It’s about both China and Russia, but also about creating a future for the young so they don’t join groups that engage in terrorism."

New Ideas to Take Home

In addition to being a member of The Democratic Party in Kenya, Veronica Waithira also sits on the board of CMD. She, too, is returning home with new ideas for tomorrow’s politics in Kenya:

"CMD has shown the way, but the cross-party forum needs more muscle. The meetings in Denmark have shown me that the ego in Kenya is too big. Here, you have the will to compromise because you fundamentally base your decisions on your country. At the same time, I’m impressed by the personal responsibility that all Danes demonstrate. Many are volunteers, and you clean up after yourselves and make decisions for your family and society."

"It has been a fantastic experience for all of us to learn about democracy in Denmark," says Veronica Waithira, thanking the four Danish parties in the partnership.

Caption:
"The visit to Denmark has shown us the value of agreeing to disagree, yet still working together," say Annabel Mwangi, Alfred Kaibung’a, and Veronica Waithira, who represent three different parties in Kenya. In August, they were on a study visit to learn more about Danish democracy