The document discusses a new book called "Eden in Turmoil" about Kenya's transition from an election-centered democracy to one anchored in institutional and cultural reforms, arguing that future elections and governance will be determined by whether society internalizes reforms to confront elite capture that has perpetuated socio-political unrest since Kenya's 2007 post-election violence. It provides an overview of the book's concept and contents, which analyzes insights into modern democratic systems and how precedents, emotions, media freedom, and "counter-democracy" influence political and social dynamics.

3. Is Kenya Out of The Woods Yet?
Half a decade after Kenya’s worst political tragedy that claimed
over 1,133 lives and displaced over 350, 000 persons, elite
capture that is the main catalyst of the socio-political unrest still
permeates every level of the Kenyan society.
If constitutional reforms are to take root, there’s an urgent need
for a national renaissance that will confront an elite bent to
maintain the status quo by all means necessary.

4. THE CLARION CALL
EDEN IN TURMOIL is a new book about Kenya’s
journey from an election centered democracy to an
institutional and cultural reforms anchored democracy.
Whereas the 2008 post election violence staged a ground
revolt perpetuated by the elite, EDEN IN
TURMOIL argues that future elections and
governance will be determined by a society slowly
internalizing the culture of reforms to confront elite
capture.

5. THE CONCEPT
The concept of EDEN IN TURMOIL is based on a
global comparative analysis of 5 big insights that
shift our understanding of how people respond at the
democratic market place.
Each of these insights is something that has been
reported over and over in media, extensively analyzed
in leading conferences and explored through academic
research and spotlighted in trend reports. They are
global and affect every culture.

6. #1. There is a modern believability crisis.
The race for development has become an intense
preoccupation of every nation. The unresponsive
government stature is being defaced by a revolution
of rising expectations that has fuelled a fundamental
distrust of politics. Social media has bridged the
mobilisation gap and rural populations previously
thought to be state propaganda compliant are
churning astounding revolutions. This is the modern
believability crisis, and it is impacting every
government.

7. #2. People make decisions
emotionally, not logically.
The way we make decisions has not changed, but our
understanding of it has. When a government undertakes
structural development projects on one hand and at the
same time perfects elite capture that benefits a minority at
the expense of the majority, feelings of frustration fester
and these are bound to escalate to full blown violent
conflicts against the state or those perceived to benefit
from the state.
Mountains of research on structural and intractable conflicts
point to the fact that people are inherently irrational and
emotions play a fundamental in decision making especially
when it comes to survival economics.

8. #3. Precedent is the most compelling
form of communication
Our understanding and relationship to a political
establishment is determined to a large extent by
precedents set. A government cannot oversee
marginalization yet expect society to practice peace and
social cohesion.
Likewise, a movement cannot utilise violence as the
ladder for political ascendancy and expect to govern
over the “aggressor” fairly and equitably.
Precedent inspires society to either latent violence or
social anarchy.

9. #4. Press Freedom is the foundation
of all great democracies.
Where state run propaganda and misinformation dominates the
information space, conflict and xenophobia are more likely to fester.
Former World Bank President, Paul Wolfowitz, and senior Bank
economists made the case that strong, independent news media play a
key role in promoting transparency and good governance, which in turn
lead to economic and political development.
Wolfowitz once said, “You really can’t talk about economic development
without talking about freedom of the press.
Corruption can only flourish when governments operate with impunity
outside the bright lights and public exposure that independent media
bring.

10. #5. In “Counter-democracy” we trust.
Not the opposite of democracy but rather a form of
democracy that reinforces the usual electoral democracy
as a kind of buttress, a democracy of indirect powers
disseminated throughout society.
In other words, a durable democracy of distrust, which
complements the episodic democracy of the usual
electoral-representative system.”
Concretely, this system of counter-democracy includes
citizen oversight, obstruction and judgment.

11. Contents Page
• CHAPTER ONE: Background of The 2007 General Elections
• CHAPTER TWO: The Role of Elections Within a Democracy
• CHAPTER THREE: Kenya’s Approach to Democracy
• CHAPTER FOUR: The Sequence of Violent Intractable Conflicts
• CHAPTER FIVE: The Typology of Electoral Violence
• CHAPTER SIX: Cultural Domination Movements
• CHAPTER SEVEN: Media Conduct During Elections
• CHAPTER EIGHT: Addressing Youth Disenfranchisement
• CHAPTER NINE: The Church in Competitive Politics
• CHAPTER TEN: State Responsibility to Protect
• CHAPTER ELEVEN: Tracing International Criminal Justice
• CHAPTER TWELVE: Kenya’s Case at The ICC
• CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The ICC Prosecution Strategy
• CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Transitional Justice and Reconciliation
• CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Interventions in Conflict Situations
• CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Call for National Renaissance

12. About The Author
Edward is a strategic communications and Media
Engagement consultant with the Kenya Data Journalism
Project. He is also a frequent commentator on the BBC
World Service Nairobi Bureau and a regional journalism
trainer.
Edward teaches Communication and Media
concentrations at St. Paul’s University and when not
working, takes time to enjoy Children theatre, classical
literature and political history.

13. Contact The Author
Edward Wanyonyi
P.O Box 3875-00506, Nairobi
Tel: 020 2098248, 0724 768895
Email:edward.marks09@gmail.com