Violence In Kenya Following Election

After the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta, violence has erupted in Kenya, leaving at least 24 dead, including a 9-year-old girl. It is said that the victims were shot dead throughout Kenya and that 17 of the deaths were in the capital, Nairobi. The results of the election on August 8, 2017, resulted in a victory for Kenyatta over opposition leader Raila Odinga, giving Kenyatta a second five-year term.

In fact, Kenyatta received 54 percent of the vote, compared to 45 percent for Odinga. In response, protests and violence emerged right after Kenyatta had been declared the winner of the election. Most demonstrators were Odinga supporters, as Odinga had rejected the results, declaring that the vote was rigged, which is a claim that has been denied by Kenyan officials. Meanwhile, the clashes and violence following allegations of vote rigging have raised concerns, with some Kenyans fearful of possible ethnic clashes like ones that occurred in the past, such as the clashes following the 2007 election, where over 1,000 people were killed.

Furthermore, the Kenyan Red Cross has indicated that it has treated 93 people for injuries following the election. Amnesty International called for an investigation by authorities into reports that police killed demonstrators in opposition strongholds. Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International’s Regional Director, stated that “Everyone has a right to peaceful protest and they must not be hurt, injured or killed for exercising that right.” However, the acting Interior Minister stated that the reports of the deaths of the protesters were lies and that they were mostly criminals taking advantage of the chaos. Moreover, President Kenyatta called for peace after the result of the election had been declared, stating the following in a tweet: “Fellow Kenyans, elections come and go but Kenya is here to stay. Let us always remember that we are all brothers and sisters.”

International observers of the election have also urged the candidates to respect the results of the election and resolve poll disputes through legal channels. As well, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who served as an election observer for the Carter Center, maintained that the election was not rigged. He said, “If anything was electronically fiddled with, there is a way to go back and absolutely ascertain what happened in the polling station.”

Thus, with the events in Kenya following the election, and the past precedence for ethnic violence erupting because of such tense events, there is a need to be careful and measured, particularly in response to any already occurring violence. For example, holding meetings with Odinga and encouraging him to settle any possible issues through legal means, rather than encouraging demonstrations may be a possible pathway for diffusing the situation. As well, a harsh crackdown by authorities can accelerate more unrest and violence, and so it is important to be very pragmatic in this situation. The international community that has overseen the elections is confident in the results, so in that capacity there does not seem to be issues, but the ethnic element that creates tensions is something to carefully consider. Lastly, while the international community that has overseen the elections is confident in the results, so in that capacity, there do not seem to be any issues, but the ethnic element that creates tensions is something to carefully consider.

With that said, in spite of the chaos ensuing in parts of Kenya following the election, it is important to note that despite the events that are happening, the country is still stated to be in a relative state of calm. However, without a proper de-escalation of this current situation, it is possible that there may be major implications as Kenya is considered both a crucial trade route and a buffer of stability in a region marred by instability. As such, it is increasingly important to manage the ongoing political tensions, which if left alone, may have further impacts on the future, such as eroding trust in governmental institutions and generating national instability.

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