Kenya’s Presidential election not easy to understand -Is anyone planning to distabilise the country?

Election results in Kenya has been delayed. The Electoral Commission says they need time before they can release the presidential elections.

Mr Raila Odinga declared himself the winner today at around 14.30 Kenya time, but Kibaki side says they are the one that has won the presidential election.

Confussion is growing creating fear that the elections might be rigged due to the delay in releasing the results:

1. The media has reported the latest as follows: Raila with 3 880 053 votes, Kibaki with 3 842 051 and Kalonzo with 452 952 votes.

2. The Government spokesman has come with the following numbers: Kibaki with 2 394 099, Raila with 2 388 721 and Kalonzo with 231 183 votes.

What should the voters believe as the correct numbers. The situation has caused chaos with some citizens looting and breaking into other peoples property. Some were seen brandishing knives and pangas on the streets threatening to direct their rage towards the opponents of those they support.

The Electoral Commission in liason with the government decided to halt the counting of votes until tomorrow Sunday.

Published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no

Moi sons lose signalling end of family dynasty

The defeat of former President Moi’s three sons was one of the highlights of the 2007 General Election.

Retired President Daniel arap Moi parades Kanu parliamentary aspirants at Kamungei Primary School. On his immediate left is Mr Peter Sigei (Chepalungu), Dr Kiplang’at (Sotik), Minister Paul Sang (Bureti) and Bomet’s Nick Salat. Mr Moi asked Kalenjins and Rift Valley residents to vote in the Kanu candidates and President Kibaki.

The three - Mr Gideon Moi (Baringo Central), Mr Jonathan Toroitich (Eldama Ravine) and Mr Raymond Moi (Rongai) - were widely seen as a reflection of their father’s desire to continue playing a role in Kenya’s politics many years after leaving office. 

Gideon, who succeeded his father in Baringo Central in 2002, lost to former Lands Commissioner Sammy Mwaita, who was running on an ODM ticket. 

Indeed it was the first time the seat was leaving the Moi family after more than 50 years. Gideon, like his two brothers, contested on a Kanu ticket.

Their brother Philip, a former soldier who left the army after attaining the rank of major, was said to be interested in the Rongai seat. However, he did not contest.

Over at Eldama Ravine, former rally driver-turned farmer Jonathan Toroitich, once again vied for the seat formerly held by Mr Musa Sirma, an avid supporter of ODM Pentagon member William Ruto.

Viewed as independent

It is this closeness between Mr Sirma and Mr Ruto that is said to have made the retired President to persuade his son to vie for the seat. 

Mr Sirma, however, lost during the ODM nominations to Mr Moses Lessonet who went on to win the seat.

Mr Toroitich has made two other attempts in the past, failing in both. In his first attempt in 1997, he is said to have lacked his father’s full support.

Mr Toroitich is always viewed in the Moi family circles as independent and his father did not go full cycle to campaign for him.

He lost this time round to the 35-year-old banker, Mr Lessonet, a newcomer in politics. 

Mr Lessonet owes his win to the ODM wave that appeared to sweep not only Rift Valley Province, but also western Kenya in general.

Mr Mwaita, also a close ally of Mr Ruto, becomes the first outsider to become Baringo Central MP.

The seat was held by the former President for 47 years - from 1955 to 2002 when he anointed his son Gideon to take over from him. Mr Mwaita, a greenhorn in politics too, has rode into Parliament through the ODM wave.

Baringo Central had never experienced any other political leader other than the Mois.

Mr Moi and his sons appeared not to have read the mood on the ground that the region was supporting ODM this time round.

Voted overwhelmingly

Another of Mr Moi’s sons, Raymond, lost in Rongai to a businessman and political activist, Mr Luka Kigen. Raymond is one of the reclusive members of the former First Family.

In fact, it is the Rift Valley Province that contributed most of the Orange’s 3.5 million votes during the referendum, having voted overwhelmingly against the proposed new constitution.

During this period, Mr Moi and his son Gideon, joined ODM leaders to oppose the proposed constitution which was being pushed by President Kibaki and his allies.

Most Kalenjins voted against the Government then because of what they deemed as unfair sacking of its professionals from the Government and the persecution of Mr Moi and his close allies.

However, Mr Moi changed tact immediately after the referendum and started have a cosy relationship with his predecessor.

Within a few months, Mr Moi became President Kibaki’s defender and Mr Ruto’s public enemy number one. In fact, during a rally in Nandi, Mr Moi appointed former Keiyo South MP Nicholas Biwott and Tinderet’s Henry Kosgey as the individuals Kalenjins should seek advice and direction from.

He was later to tear into ODM, questioning how it transformed itself into a party without consulting the people. He further argued that it was his backing for the Orange team that led to the defeat of the proposed new constitution
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And sooner rather than later, Mr Moi was to call a press conference at his Nairobi Kabarnet Gardens residence to throw his weight behind President Kibaki’s re-election.

Mr Moi immediately began campaigning for President Kibaki in the vast Rift Valley Province. However, things started going bad for him when he met a hostile reception in some areas.

He concentrated his campaigns mainly in Mr Ruto’s stronghold in Eldoret and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey’s Nandi - the two individuals he felt had betrayed him. The ODM leaders capitalised on some of the weaknesses of the former President’s leadership and corruption to turn pressure on him.

This, coupled with his fast waning influence in the region where most of the residents said he had nothing to show for his 24-year rule, made many people follow the young leadership that was emerging, led by Mr Ruto.

Protest vote

Analysts argue that the Kalenjins voted overwhelmingly for ODM as a protest vote against Mr Moi.

Buret MP-elect Franklin Bett said Kalenjins had realised that Mr Moi was only using Kalenjins for personal benefit.

The former State House Comptroller said: “The Kalenjins realised that the arrangement between Moi and Kibaki had nothing to do with the community - it was all about a family protecting its wealth.”

Mr Joe Magut, a political analyst, argued that Mr Moi’s influence began waning because of the emergence of new and young political players, like Mr Ruto, who were ‘informed and opinionated’.

He said: “The political geometry in Rift Valley has taken a different shape and Mr Moi has been squeezed to a corner and voting out three of his sons is protest vote.”

Lifted and published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.nation.ke

Raila takes early lead

Published on December 29, 2007, 12:00 am

By Saturday Team It was the day the Cabinet was massacred. The Vice-President humiliated in a constituency contest, and the President trailing by a million votes in the national tally. Orange Democratic Movement candidate Mr Raila Odinga remained at the top of the charts throughout the night and the whole of Friday from the moment counting started.

Of the votes cast out of the possible 14.2 million registered, preliminary count gave Raila 3.3 million and Kibaki 2.3 million.

Raila opened a commanding lead in six of eight provinces and by last night some of his strongholds were yet to be tallied. ODM, Raila’s party, had secured 72 seats, PNU 18 and Kalonzo’s six.

With returns from 112 of 210 constituencies, slightly over 50 per cent of electoral areas, Raila had opened a 900,000 gap between him and President Kibaki.

Raila had polled 3, 268,571 votes against President Kibaki of PNU who had 2,278,355. Mr Kalonzo Musyoka of ODM-Kenya had a paltry 356,632.

The results were mainly without the tally from the populous Nairobi region where six of eight constituencies were yet to be included. Only Raila’s Lang’ata constituency, and Kamukunji were complete with tension and chaos rocking the other constituencies over claims of attempts to rig.

President Kibaki strove to catch up, albeit with luck receding, as 16 of his ministers and allies, were red-carded.

Only four ministers had retained their seats by last evening: Mr Kiraitu Murungi (Energy), Ms Martha Karua (Justice), Mr Amos Kimunya (Finance), and Dr Noah Wekesa (Science and Technology).

Those who fell included Vice- President Moody Awori, Mr Simeon Nyachae (Roads) who led the Party of National Unity, and Mr David Mwiraria (Environment) whose travel visas the British cancelled a fortnight ago.

Also shoved to the sidelines, and who still bear the presidential flag, were: Ford-People leader Mr Musikari Kombo (Local Government), and his perennial warring partner Dr Mukhisa Kituyi (Trade).

Also defeated were Information minister Mr Mutahi Kagwe, Mr Kipruto arap Kirwa (Agriculture), Mr Joseph Munyao (Livestock), Mr Moses Akaranga (Mr Paul Sang (Health) Mr Mutua Katuku (Water), Mr Mohammed Abdi (Rural Development), Mr Morris Dzoro (Tourism), Mr Peter Njeru Ndwiga (Co-operatives), Dr Newton Kulundu (Labour), Mr Henry Obwocha (Planning), Njenga Karume (Defence), and Mr Raphael Tuju (Foreign).

As the sun set the political careers of Education minister Prof George Saitoti, (Defence), and Mr Ali Chirau Mwakwere, were on the tenterhook. Saitoti, claiming he was being rigged out, took his protest to the iron gates of Kenyatta International Conference, where the Electoral Commission has moved house. Disputes rocked counting in Karume’s and Mr Maina Kamanda (Sports) constituencies.

There were also falls whose thuds reverberated countrywide – particularly that of former powerful Cabinet minister, Kanu power-man and retired President Moi’s sidekick, Mr Nicholas Biwott.

New faces in politics Fondly referred to as Karnet (unwrought iron in Kalenjin), or Total Man, Biwott conceded defeat by a former sales advertising representative of a local newspaper, Mr Jackson Kiptanui. He, however, insisted he was the best bet for the seat up to two days ago when ODM’s ‘three-piece’ formula turned the tables against his party Kanu.

There was also the defeat of President Moi’s three sons – Gideon, Jonathan and Raymond – in Baringo Central, Eldama Ravine and Rongai.

Former Health minister Mrs Charity Ngilu swam against the ODM-Kenya/Kalonzo wave in Ukambani to win in Kitui Central. The ‘Pentagon’ in ODM, comprising Raila, Mr William Ruto, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, and Mr Najib Balala reclaimed their parliamentary seat. But their colleague, Mr Joe Nyagah, lost the Gachoga seat to former General Secretary of National Council of Churches of Kenya, the Reverend Mutava Musyimi. Ndwiga lost to a matatu fleet manager Mr Emilio Kathuri, Nyachae Dr Monda.

Rift Valley turned around the place of women in politics by electing six. They are: Dr Sally Kosgey (ODM, Aldai), Prof Hellen Sambili (UDM, Mogotio), Prof Margaret Kamar (ODM, Eldoret East), Ms Lorna Laboso (ODM, Sotick), Ms Peris Chepchumba Kipsimam (ODM, Eldoret South), and Mrs Linah Jebii Kilimo (Kenda, Marakwet East).

Raila led in all provinces except Central and Eastern. In the tallies available for Nairobi, Raila had collected 146,205 votes followed closely by Kibaki who had 95,808. Kalonzo was third on 18,048.

In Coast Province Raila was also ahead on 151,023 votes. Kibaki was second with 83,087. Kalonzo had 11,816.

Raila also led by a wide margin in Nyanza Province, where he had 1,025,23. Kibaki was second with 67,151. Kalonzo trailed third on 1203. Kalonzo led in Eastern Province on 197,565 with Kibaki second on 8,0523. Raila was third with 26,564.

Raila led again in Western with 492,295 votes. Kibaki followed with 162,177 while Kalonzo was third with 4657.

Raila had also collected more than one million votes in Rift-Valley Province standing at 1,074,142. Kibaki was second on 426,984. Kalanzo’s votes were 30,939.

It was a close contest in North Eastern Province between Kibaki and Raila with the latter having a small lead on 46,646. Kibaki had 42,407. Kalonzo had 4,581.

Kibaki had taken a comfortable lead Central Province, garnering just well over one million votes to stand at 1,061,098. Raila had 13,938 and Kalonzo 6,430 votes.

Results were trickling in from across the country by the time of going to press with the edge of competition becoming clearer.

The preliminary result showed a record voter turn out, with over eight million of about 14 million registered voters expected to have voted.

By last night ODM had 72 parliamentary seats, PNU 18, ODM-Kenya six and Kanu five.

Lifted and published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.standard.ke