Hey guys!
Sorry if this post’s a little late - I spent the day participating in the Zucchini 500. Have no idea what that means? I’ll explain that on Saturday, in the Good News post.
Here we go!
Africa has always been a continent that has struggled with democracy. Thanks to centuries-long meddling by the European colonial powers, African countries have long been plagued with coups and faulty elections.
That’s what makes Kenya stand out so much.
The eastern country that is Kenya has long been an economic powerhouse of the region, a beacon of hope for the future. Protected by a strong constitution, Kenyan elections have served as a symbol for the rise of democracy on the troubled continent.
But, like so many governments around the world, it has flaws. Those flaws were most apparent in this recent election.
It took a grueling six days of vote counting to find the victor, six days that proved volatile for Kenya. And that volatility only increased when the winner was announced: William Ruto.
Ruto in and of himself is a controversial figure; though his rags-to-riches story is inspiring, what happened after is not. After the hotly contested election of 2007, Ruto was charged internationally for crimes against humanity, crimes that left 1,200 dead and 600,000 more displaced. Yikes. Ruto managed to escape the charges, however, when the case against him fell apart in 2016. His figure only became all the more controversial when he was announced to be the country’s president. Or is he? Many disagree.
William Ruto’s primary opponent, Raila Odinga, was the first to take a stand against the results - before they were even finalized. He is now filing a legal challenge against the result, calling it a “travesty.” He’s not alone, either; four out of Kenya’s seven “election commissioners” refused to confirm Ruto’s victory, citing a lack of transparency.
What the truth is, behind all this controversy, remains to be seen.
Sources:
Kenya's Ruto says no time to waste after election as rival prepares court challenge - Reuters
Kenya Declares New President, but Battle May Not Be Over - New York Times
From Barefoot Student to Power Broker: William Ruto Is Declared Kenya’s President - New York Times
Does this remind you of any OTHER recent election...?