One country two faces

Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen and Marakwet East residents queue to vote at Kakimiti polling centre yesterday. [Fred Kibor, Standard]

The fresh presidential election exposed two sides of a country where on the one hand peaceful voting went on in some areas while chaos reigned in others, with police clashing with protesters.

In central Kenya and Rift Valley, low voter turnout in the morning gradually improved as the day wore on.

In Ukambani, where polling stations opened on schedule, there were no reported violent incidents. Low voter turnout was also reported at the Coast and western Kenya regions.

Calls for boycott by Opposition supporters, heavy rainfall, threats, general voter apathy given that most felt the vote was a no-contest, and absence of competition for local seats were cited among the reasons for the low turnout.

In Homa Bay, Kisumu, Siaya, and Migori, protesters blocked polling stations, prompting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to postpone the election and call a repeat vote on October 28.

At least three people were yesterday killed in anti-poll protests in Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Athi River. More than 20 others were injured.

There were reported attacks on some polling stations, including Mabunge primary and secondary schools in Busia, where election materials were destroyed.

The environment was so hostile in Busia that some voters did not want their fingers to be marked with ink after voting for fear of reprisals.

There were blockades and open intimidation in some areas. In one instance the home of former Kabondo Kasipul MP Sylvans Osele was placed under armed police guard to keep away marauding youths who wanted to raid it.

A brawl involving MPs of the rival Jubilee and NASA camps on live television yesterday highlighted the intolerance and poisoned political atmosphere ensuing from the disputed vote. 

The repeat poll that was ordered by the Supreme Court, which nullified the August 8 victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta following a successful petition by NASA leader Raila Odinga, in the end split the country into two, shattering hopes of a united nation.

Perhaps in acknowledgement of the challenge ahead, President Kenyatta, who is expected to win the repeat poll, said if declared the president-elect he would reach out to Raila in a bid to unify the country.

“It will be a responsibility of the one who will win the repeat presidential election to heal and unify the country. Should I win the elections, it will be my duty to do that and it is my intention to reach out to him (Raila). Let us first get through this election,” he said.

“Campaigns are divisive and it is the responsibility of whoever is elected president to deal with those divisions, to heal and bring the country together," said the Head of State after casting his vote at Mutomo Primary School in Gatundu South constituency, Kiambu. 

Independent institutions

The bitter election process has also dented the credibility of independent institutions such as the IEBC, given the infighting and divisions that have haunted it in the run-up to yesterday's poll.

Events at the Judiciary in the past 24 hours to the repeat election turned the spotlight on the Supreme Court after Chief Justice David Maraga had to call off a hearing challenging the preparedness of the commission due to lack of quorum. The law requires that the Supreme Court have at least five judges to conduct business.

Justice Maraga, however, travelled to his constituency in Nyamira County to vote.