Precious little to show for the African peer review mechanism

Kenya will be hosting the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) meeting next week. APRM was formed in 2003 after the African Union (AU) resolved that African states should formulate a unique mechanism that could help them review progress made in the political management of individual African countries periodically.

Thus, it is a self-evaluation mechanism that shines its spotlight on four key areas of governance; the practice of democracy, economic governance, corporate governance and social-economic development. Unfortunately, there is little enthusiasm for APRM with only 35 out of 54 countries having joined it and even among member states; some have been reluctant to submit their reports, making it difficult to get an accurate assessment of their progress. In June this year while in South Africa, President Kenyatta called for the revitalisation of the APRM, having taken cognisance of its slowed momentum.