Negotiated Democracy in Mandera: Is the concept dead before it even starts?

The concept of negotiated democracy which was highly publicized a few weeks ago seems to have run into serious headwinds. The idea which gained currency mainly in the North eastern province inhabited by Somalis was conceived as a way of ensuring amity and unity among various clans residing in the province, as a way of checking ethnic polarization and negative political competition that potentially lead to disenfranchisement and conflict.

At first blush, the idea appeared novel and timely, but that has not prevented serious divisions, allegations of favoritism and gate keeping by clan elders to bubble to the fore and seriously question the effectiveness of "negotiated democracy".