Four lessons from Kenya’s August 2022 polls
Elections in Kenya elections are always a hyped activity filled with tension and scrutiny.
And the 2022 general elections were no different.
The exercise, pitting presidential candidates William Ruto, Raila Odinga, George Wajackoyah and Wahiga Mwaure were not only competitive but entertaining and closely matched.
William Ruto was eventually declared winner, with the win validated by the Supreme Court weeks later even though Odinga who finished a close second has consistently contested the results and findings.
Here are some take home lessons from the August 2022 polls
1.Ethnicity barrier – Kenyans appear keen to break through the ethnicity barrier considering the voting patterns in the just concluded election. Which is why Mount Kenya region turned down former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s advice and overwhelmingly voted for William Ruto.
Raila Odinga meanwhile, received votes from several regions including Western Kenya and at the Coast.
2. Succession politics – For the second time in the country’s history, an outgoing president failed to impose his successor on Kenyans. Former president Uhuru Kenyatta openly vouched for Raila Odinga who lost to William Ruto. Earlier in 2002, then president Daniel Moi (now deceased) campaigned for Uhuru Kenyatta who went on to lose to Mwai Kibaki.
3. The Supreme Court magic – Decisive as it may be, the Supreme Court has gone a long way in stabilizing Kenya. How?
Kenyans barely had faith in the courts before the 2010 elections and this was witnessed when riots marred the contested polls in which Mwai Kibaki was declared winner.
Since, the outcome of the 2013, 2017 and 2022 polls have been contested at the Supreme Court and Kenyans have accepted to live with the ruling even if they do not necessarily accept it. In 2017, the Supreme Court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win and order fresh elections.
In 2022, Chief Justice Martha Koome brushed aside a petition by Raila Odinga to nullify the elections.
All this while, Kenyans remains relatively peaceful and observed decorum.
4. Power is taken, not given – Put simply, nothing comes in a silver platter.
William Ruto worked the hardest amongst the four candidates on the ballot. He campaigned the most, held the most consultative meetings, signed charters with several self help groups and convinced several high profile politicians to dump former president Uhuru Kenyatta and support him.
In contrast, Raila Odinga basked in glory following Kenyatta’s public support of his candidature. The outcome is clear.
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