Kenyan Presidential Election Is Peaceful; Violence Feared Over Results
John Cox Lorionokou said that I’m nervous.
In the run-up to this year’s vote, fake news reports, candidates’ accusations of peddling hatred
and electoral fraud, and the killing of a top election official cast further doubt on the fairness of the race between President Uhuru Kenyatta, 55, leader of the Jubilee Party, and Raila Odinga, 72, a former prime minister who was making his fourth, and possibly last, bid for the presidency.
Efforts were made to head off potential violence once voting ended: The electoral authorities used biometric technology to prevent fraud
and to instill confidence; the two leading candidates made pleas for peace; and even former President Barack Obama, whose father was born in the country, called on Kenyans to reject violence.
"Are we going for war today or are we going for elections?" demanded Silas Owiti, 30, a voter in Kisumu
and a youth leader for the National Super Alliance, the opposition umbrella group led by Mr. Odinga.
8, 2017
KISUMU, Kenya — Millions of Kenyans went to the polls on Tuesday to vote for a new president, the culmination of a campaign dominated by concerns about the potential for vote-rigging and fears
that the country would be plunged into violence once the winner was announced.
In 2007 and 2013, residents of Kisumu said they saw the police fire live ammunition into crowds of opposition supporters after the election.
"It’s very difficult for the election to be rigged
because everything is digitized." Throughout his campaign, Mr. Odinga roused supporters by warning that the election could be stolen.