Low turnout violence tarnish kenya repeat election

The August 9, 2022, repeat presidential election in Kenya was marred by low turnout and violence, which raised concerns about the legitimacy and credibility of the electoral process.

Low Turnout:

The repeat election was held after the initial election on August 9, 2022, was nullified by the Supreme Court due to irregularities and illegalities. However, the repeat election saw a low turnout, with only about 7.1 million voters casting their ballots, out of a total of 22.1 million registered voters. This translates to a turnout of around 32%, which is significantly lower than the 78% turnout in the initial election.

Violence:

Despite the low turnout, the repeat election was also marked by violence and intimidation. There were reports of clashes between supporters of the two main candidates, William Ruto and Raila Odinga, as well as between security forces and protesters. At least 10 people were killed and many more injured in the violence.

The violence was particularly pronounced in the Rift Valley region, which has a history of political tensions and ethnic clashes. There were reports of attacks on polling stations, as well as on supporters of the two main candidates.

Tarnishing the Election:

The low turnout and violence tarnished the credibility of the repeat election, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the outcome. Many Kenyans felt that the election was not free and fair, and that the violence and intimidation had undermined the democratic process.

The international community also expressed concerns about the election, with the United States, the European Union, and other countries calling for calm and urging the Kenyan authorities to investigate the violence and ensure that the election was conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner.

In the end, William Ruto was declared the winner of the repeat election, but the outcome was widely disputed, and many Kenyans felt that the election had not been a true reflection of their will. The violence and low turnout had undermined the credibility of the election, and the country was left to grapple with the consequences of a flawed democratic process.