of the scuffles broke out in the center where the electoral commission manages the results. The vice-president of this independent organization called the Kenyans, who have been waiting for the results of the election for six days, to remain calm.
Le Monde with AFP
The Kenyans have been waiting for the name of their future president for six days, but the announcement of the results has not raised all doubts. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced, Monday August 15, that William Ruto, outgoing vice-president, had won the election. According to the president of the IEBC, Wafula Chebukati, William Ruto has accumulated more than 7.17 million votes, or 50.49 % of the votes, against 6.94 million (48.85 %) for Raila Odonga.
A few minutes before, the vice-president of this independent organization had warned that four of the seven members of the Commission rejected the future results “because of the opaque nature of the process”.
“People can go to court and, for this reason, we call on the Kenyans to be peaceful because the rule of law prevail,” added Juliana will cheat, while tension rose and scuffles broke out in the Center where the Commission (IEBC) manages the results.
#Kenya The disorder is total, people are fighting or are fired by the riot anti-riot police #Bomas… https://t.co/llpvjkktxs
Election with strong issues
The electoral commission had been under pressure for six days. It was strongly criticized five years ago, after the invalidation of the presidential election by the Supreme Court – a first in Africa. Friday, she recognized that the collection, counting and verification of the results were longer than expected, slowed down, by the interference of supporters of political parties.
Some 22.1 million voters were called to the polls on August 9 to designate the successor of the outgoing president, Uhuru Kenyatta, as well as their governors, parliamentarians and some 1,500 local elected officials. The election with strong stakes was very tight.
At 55, the ambitious William Ruto, despite his status as vice-president, was a challenge during the electoral campaign, against Raila Odonga, 77, veteran of the opposition now supported by power.
Several phases of post-electoral violence
The ballot took place very largely in peace. With a participation of around 65 % – compared to 78 % in August 2017 -, however, it was marked by a sharp increase in abstention, against the backdrop of disillusionment towards the political class and the blatant of the cost of living since The pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Sunday, by going to churches of Nairobi, capital of this very believing country, MM. Ruto and Odonga both called for calm despite the feverishness that pointed out within their respective coalition.
Kenya is a democratic anchor point in an east-African region troubled, but it has experienced several phases of post-electoral violence, sometimes very deadly, especially in 2007-2008 (more than 1,100 dead, hundreds thousands of displaced).
The results of all presidential elections have also been disputed since 2002, in the street or before the courts.