Social media, bribery, thuggery, violence, votes buying and rigging allegations; Kenyan Journalist, Kurian Musa, who sheds lights on these during the Platforms Africa e-Discourse, opens up on lessons Nigeria and Ghana can learn from the election won by William Ruto and lost by Raila Odinga and Kenyatta coalition
So far so good. Looks like the Kenyan Election has landed softly on a sofa. There was no buga. What is your assessment?
Here in Nairobi, unlike other elections, there is a lot of peace, vote tallying goes on longer than usual but within 7 days constitutional time limits to announce the presidential outcome
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati has shown Contestants and the electorate that he is a man in charge and fully in control of the process so far so good.
Would you say, the election has met the voters’ expectations?
I’d say this election has met a wide range of expectations though there are many other usual teething issues of transmission of results
Technical challenges in some areas where the KIEMs kits failed to identify voters biometrics and they had to resort to a manual register.
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What has been the comments of the two major contenders – Ruto and Odinga – about the elections?
Dr William Ruto, the countries deputy President has been asking the President (Uhuru Kenyatta) to keep off involving himself in campaigning for his opponent RT. Hon Raila Odinga.
On the other hand, Raila Odinga believes Dr Ruto has been the one derailing President Uhuru govt. He has called out Dr Ruto on major graft claims.
Dr Ruto believes this is an election of transformation of the economy and breaking of social classes, while Raila Odinga believes it is time for the third and final Revolution to have stronger institutions and tame graft.
Dr Ruto opines that graft is cross cutting in both political divides. And has held that changing the economy is the main agenda in the country as much as taming corruption is an elusive issue if leaders and the corrupt aren’t charged in courts with independent Judiciary (criminal justice system).
Has money played any role in this elections? What are the specific roles it played?
Money money. Money talks in Africa!
Well, this election, branding, political adverts in bill boards, radio, state of the art luxury and tour cars.
Money has been literally been poured in the blogosphere hence lots of disinformation, fake news, new slanting in mainstream media and also buying out those who attended political rallies.
Mobilization of those who attend rallies has been an expensive affair, using buses and the political candidates using state of the art choppers from MPs, Governors, Senators, Presidential candidates.
UDA President candidate Dr Ruto has been holding up to 10 rallies in a day in different parts of the country. Coast to Coast
We have seen a lot of fake money or money laundering claims by the Cabinet Secretary of Interior Dr Fred Matiang’i. Saying the UDA camp is bringing in laundered money Into the campaign’s.
Dr Ruto’s running mate Rigathi Gachaguas bank accounts being frozen over graft claims filed in Courts. However, the court proceedings have resulted to the freezing of the accounts.
Kurian, At this point, what every member wants to know is who is leading? Who is loosing?
Well
This is the key question now. Nobody knows.
But, from the forms 34As posted in the electoral commission public portal and tabulated by the media houses.
The two are on a neck to neck race. With less than 500k vote margin, DP Ruto seemed to be ahead in the provisional results.
Though, these provisional results have been haulted after the Media Counci of Kenya prevailed the local media houses to air only verified results by the commission
Previous election in Kenya ran into a run-off. Can this one be different? Why?
Last election was not really a run off. But, due to the Supreme Court nullifying President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party win.
Raila Odinga successfully petitioned the court but failed to participate in the re-run as ordered by the court. Hence Uhuru won agains Dr Ekuru Aukot.
This is a dead heat poll. Both candidates may not get 50%+1 as per the law. We may have a run off.
Kurian, Back to the question. Talk to us about isolated cases of voter’s bribery and rigging claims by Odinga
There are however isolated cases of voter bribery and rigging claims and one Returning Officer of Embakasi East constituency (in the Capital , Nairobi) missing.
So much is happening as the President who is also Chair of Azimio La Umoja political party is has been meeting and clearing from state house.
He has been doing plans to hand over power.
Assumption Committee is ready. The country is waiting for official announcement from the chief Returning Officer.
Kurian, A curious question. Why did President Kenyatta decide not to support Vice President Ruto?
It is a deep question. Raila and Uhuru has old historical differences to handle. They had a handshake. But, DP Ruto was not happy to bring in Raila to govt soon after winning election. The President wanted to deal with historical injustices through working with Raila as opposed to Ruto who says the problems of Kenya are about the future and not the past challenges.
Uhuru’s dad was first president and Raila’s dad was first Vice President of Kenya. They differed on ideologies.
Implementation of 1954 Swineton plan & sessional paper 10 of 1963. How to revert land to Africans. Members can read this later.
Several years later Luo and Kikuyu large tribes in Kenya have had a huge difference and voting away from each other.
We expected Kikuyu nation to vote for RAILA (a Luo) by president Uhuru (Kikuyu) support for him. Unfortunately, Kikuyus have largely voted for Ruto. This possibly because DP Ruto and Uhuru were jointly charged at ICC after 2007 polls and managed to work together in 2013 & 2017 polls.
In 2007, most Kikuyus in Rift valley suffered most. This is where the Kalenjin dominate. Kikuyus in this region came here due to how President Jomo Kenyatta resettled them soon after independence. They find themselves as strangers amidst Kalenjins (Ruto’s backyard) they have chosen to work closely in support of the Kalenjins for sake of their safety and guard their property.
Most Kikuyus lost lives and property in Rift valley in 2007/08 PEV. And in 2013 under the Jubilee party, the Kalenjins and Kikuyus re-united and voted together, contextually, to stop ICC from charging their sons. I think it was a political marriage of convince.
Uhuru is now back to his fathers bed fellow to deal with historical differences.
Deep down your heart, do you foresee any problem in the next few days? How prepared are you to protect yourself?
No one is prepared pretty well. Most Kenyans traveling upcountry till president is announced perhaps to remain safe in their tribal and clan coccoons.
Supermarkets were full of shoppers stocking food, Flour became scarce in shops and supermarkets, people have stocked food and utilities just in case things go hey way.
Most rental houses has been closed as occupants are upcountry. Towns have low population. Anything can happen depending on how each political leader receives and handles the poll outcome.
This edition of e-Discourse, a weekly event organised by Platforms Africa, a forum created by award-winning African journalist, Adeola Yusuf, is moderated by Accra, Ghana-based veteran journalist, Francis KOKUTSE.
