Elections in Kenya
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Elections in Kenya in recent years have been cause for violence and fragmentation, such as during the presidential elections of 2007. Though a multiparty democracy since 1992 and holding elections since 1962, the country has serious institutional problems which make it hard for elections to be completed smoothly.[1]
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[edit] Structure
Kenya elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. The National Assembly or Bunge has 224 members, 210 members elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies, 12 members appointed and 2 ex officio members.
[edit] History
After negotiation with the British since 1957, the British allowed "one person, one vote" elections in 1963.[1] The first elections went smootly, electing Jomo Kenyatta as the first president of Kenya in 1964.[1] However, under his leadership, competitive elections slowly disappeared as various political parties either joined or were suppressed by the Kenya African National Union (KANU).[1] This consolidated single-party system would last even after Kenyatta died in 1978, eventually reaffirmed in an amendment to the constitution in 1982 which made Kenya a one party system.[1]
After major political demonstrations in 1990, KANU bowed to public pressure and began reviewing the electoral system.[1] In 1992 the amendment that had mainted a single party system was revoked, returning Kenya to multi-party elections.[1] The constitutional shift did not immediately manifest itself in well run multiparty elections.[1] However, by 2002 the international community thought the electoral system generally free, as KANU peacably transferred power to the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC).[1]
Violence has been known to trouble elections, most recently in the December 2007 presidential elections, where an estimated 1000 people were killed and 600,000 displaced.[2]
[edit] Multi-party elections since 1992
- Kenyan general election, 1992
- Kenyan general election, 1997
- Kenyan general election, 2002
- Kenyan presidential election, 2007
- Kenyan parliamentary election, 2007
[edit] Past elections
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Electoral Process in Kenya: A Review of Past Experience and Recommendations for Reform (Report). International Foundation for Electoral Systems. 2008. http://www.ifes.org/publication/077c11dc773ce6e94745f7ab711cf11e/IFES%20KENYA%20OSIEA_Aug22_FINAL.pdf.
- ^ Samir Elhawary (2008) Crisis in Kenya: land, displacement and the search for 'durable solutions' Overseas Development Institute
[edit] External links
- African Elections Database
- Adam Carr's Election Archive
- 2008 IFES analysis of Kenya's electoral history titled The Electoral Process in Kenya: A Review of Past Experience and Recommendations for Reform
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