See the chaotic scenes as Kenya elects new president
The new president of Kenya after an election widely viewed as rife with irregularities and questionable vote counting stands no chance of delivering the stability he promised – unless he is able to work with a hostile US administration.
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A week after Kenya’s disputed presidential poll was held, a general election is now set for 6 December, following months during which the country has been rocked by violence and a contested result.
The day after the election result was announced, thousands of protesters took to the streets and clashed with police in the capital of Nairobi. The government said at least nine people died in the violence, according to CNN.
The opposition-led National Super Alliance (NISA) claimed victory, but the results from Kenya’s 26 counties were contested by the National Democratic Party (NDP). In addition to the violence in Nairobi, at least four killings were reported in counties that are part of the coalition.
At the time of this report, it appears that the president-elect has not received any help from the international community. If he was to rely on outside help, he would have to work with the African Union (AU). A spokesperson for the AU added that the election commission – in an apparent show of respect to the outgoing president – will only announce a decision on the winner once it has verified the results. In theory, the AU could be persuaded to back the incumbent via financial inducements.
Kenya’s new president had vowed to ensure his inauguration at 13:00 BST on 6 December.
“We have been through a lot in Kenya over the last three years and so this victory will be a significant milestone in ensuring a country that will be the greatest African country of all time,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was elected to head the country in March. “Kenya will emerge in the next few years as the first and only model of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Africa where all Kenyans will be lifted up.”
Despite his hopes