Kenya's political landscape after 2022 elections
After the 2007 post-election violence, most Kenyans were hopeful for a more peaceful and stable political landscape. However, the 2013 elections were marred by ethnic tensions and violence, leaving many Kenyans disillusioned with the country's political process.
The 2017 election was relatively peaceful, but it was followed by a protracted legal battle over the results, which further eroded public confidence in the electoral system, IEBC (Independent Electoral And Boundaries Commission). The IEBC has since been reformed and has shown tremendous growth in the 2022 general elections that were held on 9th August 2022.
In the 2022 elections, many positions are up for a vote. In addition to voting for the president and vice president, 47 governors and their deputies, 47 members of the senate, 47 women representatives, 290 members of parliament, and 1,450 members of the County Assembly, the general election for 22,120,458 registered voters is to be conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in a total of 46,229 polling stations.
The battle for the presidency seat is a two-horse race between Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Odinga's Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party after the campaigning officially finished on the evening of 6th August.
Voter Turnout
While you would expect the 22,120,458 registered voters to show up, that was not the case in these elections. In fact, this 2022 election has the lowest turnout in Kenya's history, with only about 14 million people turning out to vote. This is a huge disappointment for many Kenyans who were hoping for a more representative democracy. Nonetheless, the elections went on smoothly, and Kenyans were peaceful all through.
Kenyans were really patient; most of them were working from home while others took a break from business. This was perhaps the best time they logged into online casinos and took advantage of casino bonuses such as the Everygame casino bonus.
The margins between Raila and Ruto were quite small. According to the official results announced by the IEBC chairman, Chebukati, Ruto narrowly defeated Raila Odinga, winning 50.5% of the vote. Of course, the Kenya Kwanza supporters were on top of the world, while the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition was extremely disappointed.
In fact, 4 of the 7 commissioners of the IEBC refused to endorse the results saying that the last leg of the tallying process was opaque. They are suggesting that 0.01% of the total votes translates to 142,000 votes which is not a small number.
The process was, however, endorsed by three commissioners and the chairman of IEBC, Wafula Chebukati. This close margin has led to some of Raila Odinga's supporters taking to the streets in protest, with some even calling for another election. The government has responded by deploying the police and military to quell the protests.
William Samoei Ruto was declared the president-elect on 15th August 2022, and he will be sworn into office soon. So far, the country is very calm, and many Kenyans seem to have learned from the 2007 post-election violence.
In fact, they have shown so much maturity by accepting the results and moving on. This is despite the fact that Raila Odinga has not conceded defeat and has vowed to challenge the results in court. The question now is, what are the lessons learned from the past, and what does the future hold for Kenya's politics?
Lessons of the election
The first lesson that Kenyans have learned is that democracy is not perfect. While it is the best system of government, it does come with its own flaws and shortcomings. The second lesson that Kenyans have learned is that violence is not the answer. In the past, when there have been disputed elections, violence has always followed. This time around, Kenyans have decided to take a different path, and they are embracing peace.
What are Kenyans looking for at the moment? Of course, there are supporters of both Ruto and Raila who want different things. On the one hand, Ruto supporters cannot wait to see the president-elect take office so that he can start implementing his agenda. On the other hand, Raila supporters are still hoping that their candidate will be declared the winner either through the courts or through re-election.
Regardless, what most Kenyans are looking for is stability and peace. They want to see a Kenya where everyone is free to express their views without fear of violence. Violence can be very costly, and it is something that Kenyans have learned the hard way.
So, what is next for Kenya's political landscape?
Only time will tell. However, one thing is for sure: the 2022 elections were a stepping stone for Kenya's democracy. Despite the low turnout, the fact that the elections were held peacefully and without any major incidents is a positive sign for the country's future.
As Kenya moves forward, it is important that the government and IEBC continue to work together to build public trust in the electoral system. Only then will Kenya be able to truly move forward as a democracy.
But one thing for sure is that IEBC, this time round, was more organized and transparent, and they also started training polling clerks earlier. This is a good sign for future elections in Kenya.
The question now is, will Raila Odinga's claims of fraud and irregularities proceed to the courts? And if he does, will he have a strong case? Only time will tell.
