Kenya needs reform

Across Africa, people are demanding greater democracy and condemning corrupt governments that cheat them out of economic growth. The latest protests have erupted in Kenya, where the autocratic regime established by Jomo Kenyatta in the 1960s has continued, with deepening corruption, under President Daniel Arap Moi since 1978. Oblivious to Africa's new climate, Mr. Moi has responded, as ever, with brute force.

In this he ignores a new sensitivity to democracy among the Western countries he counts on to provide aid and encourage investment and trade. The Clinton administration and its European partners need to remind him that Kenya risks losing this crucial support if it continues to meet reasonable demands with violent repression.

For years, Kenya's opposition leaders and human rights activists have braved police beatings, long prison sentences and even death threats to press for broader political rights. Five years ago, after their efforts were backed by a brief suspension of Western aid, Mr. Moi agreed to multiparty elections. He survived that challenge, even though he failed to win a majority of the votes. Opposition divisions and electoral regulations favoring the ruling party preserved his grip on power.

With new elections due this year, opposition groups are campaigning for constitutional changes that would give them a realistic chance of winning. Their efforts have attracted broad public support and a harsh police response. At least nine protesters have been killed.

Kenya's crisis is an early test for the Clinton administration's newly declared approach to Africa. And Britain, closely linked to Kenya since colonial times, has a new government that is emphasizing democracy and human rights in its diplomacy. Germany, another large donor, said this week that continued assistance to Kenya would depend on Mr. Moi's respect for "democratic, pluralist and constitutional rules in political debate".

One clear lesson from past policy failures in Africa is that far more attention must be given to the internal practices of governments receiving significant Western support. Kenya is a good place to start.

-- The New York Times