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Presidential elections in Kenya have always been fraught with controversies. The 2007 election, for instance, ended in violence that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people. Although the recent one, held on August 9, 2022, was largely free and peaceful, it also ended with some controversies. While four out of the seven members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) curiously rejected the result of the election amid claims of rigging, the head of the electoral commission, Wafula Chebukati, insisted that the election was free and fair. Despite intimidation and harassment, he declared William Ruto, 55, as the winner with 50.5 per cent of the votes cast. His main opponent, Raila Odinga, 77, of the Orange Democratic Movement got 48.8 per cent. Four presidential candidates were cleared to run for the election.
Ruto, who is the leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), gained ground in Odinga’s strongholds and even won by a landslide in Mount Kenya, which is the political heartland of the Kikuyu, the largest tribe in Kenya. Odinga’s running mate, Martha Karua, comes from there.
This victory was achieved despite the hostility of government and political elites as well as a biased media. Ruto, the outgoing vice president, faced serious opposition from his principal, President Uhuru Kenyatta, who gave his full support to Odinga. Ironically, both Kenyatta and Ruto were allies, but since 2017 when they were re-elected for a second term in office, they work at cross-purposes.
A number of factors worked in favour of Ruto, who is from Kalenjin ethnic group like the late former President Daniel Arap Moi. He presented himself as the underdog try- ing to fight off an attempt by Kenyatta and Odinga dynasties to hang on to power and continue the economic exploitation of the poor masses. Kenyatta’s father, Jomo, was Kenya’s first President, while Odinga’s was the first Vice President.
Besides, the youths who make up almost 40 per cent of Kenya’s 22 million registered voters, formed the majority of Ruto’s support base. He coined the word, ‘hustlers,’ to refer to himself and other young people who are struggling to eke out a living. He used the word ‘dynasties’ to refer to the Kenyattas and Odingas. He also promised a ‘bottom-up’ economic model aimed at creating employment and developing small business. As an orator, he drew crowds during the campaign.
On the contrary, Odinga presented himself as the status quo candidate bent on preserving the legacies of Kenyatta. A veteran presidential candidate, Odinga is from the Luo tribe, which historically has had a frosty relationship with the Kikuyu. In the history of Kenya, a country of 48 million people, no Luo has ever become the President.
The recent election made it the fifth time Odinga would be contesting for a presidential election. He came close to winning it five years ago but still lost to Kenyatta. He contested the outcome of the poll as his supporters took to the streets to protest the result. He is also challenging the outcome of the recent election.
As Nigeria prepares for a major general election in 2023, there are many lessons the country could learn from the East African country. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for instance, should emulate the firmness of the head of Kenya’s electoral commission who stood his ground despite intimidation and harassment. The pressure INEC will face will be much more than what the Kenyan electoral commission faced. But its ability to withstand the pressure will stand it out. The electoral umpire must be fair to all and also respect the wishes of the people.
Technology also played a significant role in the success of the Kenyan election. The commis- sion deployed electronic voter identification system that could not be easily manipulated. This made it possible for the votes to count. Although some of the machines malfunctioned, it was not significant enough to affect the outcome of the poll. The only snag here is that it took the electoral commission six days to announce the result of the election.
Let INEC learn from Kenya’s experience and ensure that its latest technology, the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS), works efficiently in 2023. In all, the will of the people must not be compromised. Like Kenyans, Nigerians should conduct themselves peacefully during the forthcoming election. Though there were a few incidents during the announcement of the Kenyan election results, they were not enough to change the wishes of the people. Also, Kenyans threw away certain primordial sentiments to vote for someone whose campaign slogan and promises resonated well with them.
Without prejudice to the outcome of Odinga’s court case, we feel that the Kenyan electoral process is maturing. We salute the electorate who have shown that democracy is all about the power of the people. We also congratulate Ruto and urge him to see all parts of the country as his constituency. He should not discriminate against those who didn’t support him. Good enough, he has promised no vengeance against his opponents. The task ahead of him is enormous. He needs to tackle corruption, which has become endemic under Kenyatta. He also needs to tackle soaring inflation, massive debt and rising unemployment.
