Elections in Kenya
Encyclopedia
Elections in Kenya in recent years have been cause for violence and fragmentation, such as during the presidential
elections of 2007. Though a multiparty democracy since 1992 and holding elections since 1962, the country has serious institutional problems which make it hard for elections to be completed smoothly.
- the president
- and a legislature
. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. The National Assembly
or Bunge has 224 members, 210 members elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies, 12 members appointed and 2 ex officio members.
as the first president of Kenya in 1964. However, under his leadership, competitive elections slowly disappeared as various political parties either joined or were suppressed by the Kenya African National Union
(KANU). This consolidated single-party system would last even after Kenyatta died in 1978, eventually reaffirmed in an amendment to the constitution in 1982 which made Kenya a one party system.
After major political demonstrations in 1990, KANU bowed to public pressure and began reviewing the electoral system. In 1992 the amendment that had mainted a single party system was revoked, returning Kenya to multi-party elections. The constitutional shift did not immediately manifest itself in well run multiparty elections. However, by 2002 the international community thought the electoral system generally free, as KANU peacably transferred power to the National Rainbow Coalition
(NARC).
Violence has been known to trouble elections, most recently in the December 2007 presidential elections
, where an estimated 1000 people were killed and 600,000 displaced.
Kenyan presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; parliamentary elections were held on the same date. Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner and sworn in on December 30, despite opposition leader Raila Odinga's claims of victory...
elections of 2007. Though a multiparty democracy since 1992 and holding elections since 1962, the country has serious institutional problems which make it hard for elections to be completed smoothly.
Structure
Kenya elects on national level a head of stateHead of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
- the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
- and a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. The National Assembly
National Assembly of Kenya
The unicameral National Assembly of Kenya is the country's legislative body.The current National Assembly has a total of 224 members. 210 members are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple majority system...
or Bunge has 224 members, 210 members elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies, 12 members appointed and 2 ex officio members.
History
After negotiation with the British since 1957, the British allowed "one person, one vote" elections in 1963. The first elections went smootly, electing Jomo KenyattaJomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
as the first president of Kenya in 1964. However, under his leadership, competitive elections slowly disappeared as various political parties either joined or were suppressed by the Kenya African National Union
Kenya African National Union
The Kenya African National Union, better known as KANU is a political party which ruled Kenya for nearly 40 years after its independence from British colonial rule in 1963, until its electoral loss at the end of 2002...
(KANU). This consolidated single-party system would last even after Kenyatta died in 1978, eventually reaffirmed in an amendment to the constitution in 1982 which made Kenya a one party system.
After major political demonstrations in 1990, KANU bowed to public pressure and began reviewing the electoral system. In 1992 the amendment that had mainted a single party system was revoked, returning Kenya to multi-party elections. The constitutional shift did not immediately manifest itself in well run multiparty elections. However, by 2002 the international community thought the electoral system generally free, as KANU peacably transferred power to the National Rainbow Coalition
National Rainbow Coalition
The National Rainbow Coalition was a coalition of Kenyan political parties in power from 2002 and 2005 when it fell apart in a controversy between its wings about a constitutional referendum.-Formation:...
(NARC).
Violence has been known to trouble elections, most recently in the December 2007 presidential elections
Kenyan presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; parliamentary elections were held on the same date. Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner and sworn in on December 30, despite opposition leader Raila Odinga's claims of victory...
, where an estimated 1000 people were killed and 600,000 displaced.
Multi-party elections since 1992
- Kenyan general election, 1992Kenyan general election, 1992General elections were held in Kenya on 29 December 1992. Although they were the first multi-party elections since independence, the results were marred by allegations of ballot-box stuffing, and targeted ethnic violence in the Rift Valley Province...
- Kenyan general election, 1997Kenyan general election, 1997General elections were held in Kenya on 29 December 1997. The result was a victory for the ruling Kenya African National Union, which won 107 of the 210 seats in the National Assembly, and whose candidate Daniel arap Moi won the presidential election...
- Kenyan general election, 2002
- Kenyan presidential election, 2007Kenyan presidential election, 2007A presidential election was held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; parliamentary elections were held on the same date. Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner and sworn in on December 30, despite opposition leader Raila Odinga's claims of victory...
- Kenyan parliamentary election, 2007Kenyan parliamentary election, 2007Parliamentary elections in Kenya were held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; presidential elections were held on the same date....
External links
- African Elections Database
- Adam Carr's Election Archive
- 2008 IFES analysis of Kenya's electoral history titled The Electoral Process in Kenya: A Review of Past Experience and Recommendations for Reform