Question

Many African nations have struggled to hold fair elections. In 2007, Kenya experienced violence and protests after a presidential election. Why did many Kenyans protest this election's results?

Answer 1

Before we answer this question, let’s get some background on what was happening in Kenya at the time.

First of all, a lot of people thought that the election was modified so that one candidate, Mwai Kibaki (who is part of the Kiyuku people, a Kenyan ethnic group), could win. The Kiyuku, in colonial times, were displaced and ended up moving into where the Maasai people lived, leading to tensions. Many other Kenyan tribes also believed that, since Kenya’s independence, the Kiyuku had been dominating the country.

In 2008, Mwai Kibaki was declared the president of Kenya. However, supporters of Raila Odinga called electoral manipulation. International observers then went on to say that both sides were guilty of it. The building tensions about the elections being rigged and it turning out to be true led to protests that started to turn violent.

Essentially, people were angry about a Kiyuku taking the presidency in a rigged election.