Ballots cast peace
Results in the Kenyan presidential election are expected today while there was peace yesterday, there are fear of violence today when the victor is made known.
Millions of Kenyans stood for hours on Tuesday morning, waiting patiently to cast their votes in an election seen as a key test of the stability of one of Africa's most important states.
Long queues had formed in Nairobi, the capital, even before polling stations opened at 06:00 and the fiercely contested elections got under way.
The election pits the incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta, in power since 2013, against the veteran opposition politician Raila Odinga. No clear leader emerged during campaigning.
Officials and politicians issued last-minute calls for calm, with many fearing violence during voting or, more likely, when the results are announced in coming days. An estimated 180 000 police officers and members of other security forces were deployed around Kenya to ensure order. But most voters who spoke to the Guardian at a dozen polling stations in wealthy and poorer areas in Nairobi said they were hopeful the current calm would continue, whatever the result.
“Kenyans have become more mature in the way they vote. Many would prefer peace to violence. Especially young people are against all kinds of electoral violence,” said Boniface Odhiambo, 26, as he cast his vote in Kibera, Nairobi's largest slum and an opposition stronghold.
About half of eligible voters are under 35 and levels of registration of younger voters has been reported as high.
No fear of violence
Pheisa Omonga, 20, had cast her ballot in Kilamani, a wealthy central neighbourhood. “It's really exciting. Kenya is definitely changing for the better. I am optimistic about the future. I am not worried about violence,” she said.
First-time voters could have a major impact on the result. “Younger votes tend to be more willing to go for change. Overall, ethnicity is the best predictor of vote choice, but there are important variations in other social categories. For example younger, urban and male voters are more likely to back the opposition while older, rural and female voters are more likely to support the government,” said Nic Cheeseman, an expert in African politics at the University of Birmingham.
The campaign was marred by hundreds of violent incidents – including the murder of a high-profile election official – issues with new voting technology and widespread concerns about fraud.
In recent days, bus stations have been busy as many Kenyans have left major cities for provincial areas which are seen as safe. Others have stockpiled groceries, phone cards and other essentials.
Election officials have broadcast videos calling on voters to accept that in a “healthy democracy” there are “winners and losers”. Kenyatta, 55, addressed the country Monday night, urging citizens to vote “in peace” while former US president Barack Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, led a chorus of international calls on the eve of the vote for a violence-free election. “I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people,” Obama said.
In Kibera, queues of thousands of people snaked across wasteland and through narrow lanes lined by tin-roofed shacks.
“Since morning I was here, waiting for the queue to move so I can vote for someone to make our country better,” said Alex Makau, 26 and unemployed.
Many observers had predicted young people would not turn out to vote in large numbers. This did not appear to be the case. Few appeared bothered by the lengthy wait, which some officials said was due to new electronic counting systems introduced to try to cut down voter fraud.
Most voters said they were confident the precautions taken by Kenyan electoral officials would prevent rigging.
Showdown
Odinga, who is making his fourth attempt to gain power, has claimed elections in 2007 and 2013 were stolen from him. His challenge to the results of the polls 10 years ago prompted rioting and retaliation by security forces, which killed more than 1 000 people and tipped the country into its worst crisis for decades. Much of the violence was between young men from different ethnic communities. He has been quoted as saying that only fraud in this election would make him lose.
The two candidates in the poll belong to two of the country's main ethnic groups, Kenyatta from the Kikuyu, the largest, and Odinga from the Luo. Both have built coalitions with other influential communities in a country where voting still takes place largely along ethnic lines.
However, there are signs this is changing, with younger, more urban and better-educated voters playing down such identities.
“It is different now. Some years back people normally voted just for tribe. Now it is more about if the candidate would bring some change to their lives,” said Chabkaya, a 26-year-old in Kibera who was made redundant from her cleaning job this year.
Kenyatta's first term prompted a massive infrastructure drive and steady economic growth, making Kenya one of the best-performing economies in Africa.
However, his record has been undermined by soaring food prices, enduring high unemployment and massive corruption scandals.
Dolphin Masese, a lawyer who voted in upmarket Kilmani, said young voters had different expectations from their parents. “We want more from our leaders. We are more aware of our power. We now understand our power to change things,” Masese, 24, said.
Masese's 56-year-old mother, Rose, said she had always “just accepted that politicians will be politicians” but her children did not.
Observers see the election as the last showdown of a dynastic rivalry between the families of Kenyatta, 55, and Odinga, 72, that has lasted more than half a century.
Awaiting instructions
The presidential candidates' fathers, Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga, went from allies in the struggle for independence from Britain to bitter rivals.
Some voters were more combative in their attitudes, however. “If we lose, then we will wait for our leader Raila [Odinga] to speak. If he says it is okay, then it is okay. If he says fight, we will fight,” said Abraham Ashidiva, 24, as he joined the long file of neighbours outside a Kibera polling station as drizzle turned to hazy sunshine around noon.
The Guardian
Long queues had formed in Nairobi, the capital, even before polling stations opened at 06:00 and the fiercely contested elections got under way.
The election pits the incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta, in power since 2013, against the veteran opposition politician Raila Odinga. No clear leader emerged during campaigning.
Officials and politicians issued last-minute calls for calm, with many fearing violence during voting or, more likely, when the results are announced in coming days. An estimated 180 000 police officers and members of other security forces were deployed around Kenya to ensure order. But most voters who spoke to the Guardian at a dozen polling stations in wealthy and poorer areas in Nairobi said they were hopeful the current calm would continue, whatever the result.
“Kenyans have become more mature in the way they vote. Many would prefer peace to violence. Especially young people are against all kinds of electoral violence,” said Boniface Odhiambo, 26, as he cast his vote in Kibera, Nairobi's largest slum and an opposition stronghold.
About half of eligible voters are under 35 and levels of registration of younger voters has been reported as high.
No fear of violence
Pheisa Omonga, 20, had cast her ballot in Kilamani, a wealthy central neighbourhood. “It's really exciting. Kenya is definitely changing for the better. I am optimistic about the future. I am not worried about violence,” she said.
First-time voters could have a major impact on the result. “Younger votes tend to be more willing to go for change. Overall, ethnicity is the best predictor of vote choice, but there are important variations in other social categories. For example younger, urban and male voters are more likely to back the opposition while older, rural and female voters are more likely to support the government,” said Nic Cheeseman, an expert in African politics at the University of Birmingham.
The campaign was marred by hundreds of violent incidents – including the murder of a high-profile election official – issues with new voting technology and widespread concerns about fraud.
In recent days, bus stations have been busy as many Kenyans have left major cities for provincial areas which are seen as safe. Others have stockpiled groceries, phone cards and other essentials.
Election officials have broadcast videos calling on voters to accept that in a “healthy democracy” there are “winners and losers”. Kenyatta, 55, addressed the country Monday night, urging citizens to vote “in peace” while former US president Barack Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, led a chorus of international calls on the eve of the vote for a violence-free election. “I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people,” Obama said.
In Kibera, queues of thousands of people snaked across wasteland and through narrow lanes lined by tin-roofed shacks.
“Since morning I was here, waiting for the queue to move so I can vote for someone to make our country better,” said Alex Makau, 26 and unemployed.
Many observers had predicted young people would not turn out to vote in large numbers. This did not appear to be the case. Few appeared bothered by the lengthy wait, which some officials said was due to new electronic counting systems introduced to try to cut down voter fraud.
Most voters said they were confident the precautions taken by Kenyan electoral officials would prevent rigging.
Showdown
Odinga, who is making his fourth attempt to gain power, has claimed elections in 2007 and 2013 were stolen from him. His challenge to the results of the polls 10 years ago prompted rioting and retaliation by security forces, which killed more than 1 000 people and tipped the country into its worst crisis for decades. Much of the violence was between young men from different ethnic communities. He has been quoted as saying that only fraud in this election would make him lose.
The two candidates in the poll belong to two of the country's main ethnic groups, Kenyatta from the Kikuyu, the largest, and Odinga from the Luo. Both have built coalitions with other influential communities in a country where voting still takes place largely along ethnic lines.
However, there are signs this is changing, with younger, more urban and better-educated voters playing down such identities.
“It is different now. Some years back people normally voted just for tribe. Now it is more about if the candidate would bring some change to their lives,” said Chabkaya, a 26-year-old in Kibera who was made redundant from her cleaning job this year.
Kenyatta's first term prompted a massive infrastructure drive and steady economic growth, making Kenya one of the best-performing economies in Africa.
However, his record has been undermined by soaring food prices, enduring high unemployment and massive corruption scandals.
Dolphin Masese, a lawyer who voted in upmarket Kilmani, said young voters had different expectations from their parents. “We want more from our leaders. We are more aware of our power. We now understand our power to change things,” Masese, 24, said.
Masese's 56-year-old mother, Rose, said she had always “just accepted that politicians will be politicians” but her children did not.
Observers see the election as the last showdown of a dynastic rivalry between the families of Kenyatta, 55, and Odinga, 72, that has lasted more than half a century.
Awaiting instructions
The presidential candidates' fathers, Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga, went from allies in the struggle for independence from Britain to bitter rivals.
Some voters were more combative in their attitudes, however. “If we lose, then we will wait for our leader Raila [Odinga] to speak. If he says it is okay, then it is okay. If he says fight, we will fight,” said Abraham Ashidiva, 24, as he joined the long file of neighbours outside a Kibera polling station as drizzle turned to hazy sunshine around noon.
The Guardian
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article