Kenya Elections

The polling stations are closed and election officials all over the country are busy counting votes and sending the returns in electronically.  From what I have heard, things have gone very smoothly across the country.  Most people had to wait several hours in line to get their opportunity to exercise their democratic right, but there hasn't been any cases of violence or any allegations of fixing or corruption up to this point. 

Some of you remember what happened in the last election.  Kenyans will never forget the bungled polls and the violence that broke out across the country for 2 months.  Over 1,000 were killed and close to 500,000 people were displaced from their homes.  Education was disrupted and everything in the country was stalled for those two months.  Most common people were trapped in their houses because they didn't want to get caught up in between the protestors and the police officers.  Eventually, pushed by the international community including Kofi Annan and his special team of mediators, the two opposing sides signed a power sharing agreement which brought Kenya back together again. 

Much has changed since that time.  Some of the perpetrators of the post-election violence are standing trial at the International Criminal Court (including one of the leading presidential candidate).  We have a wonderful new Constitution, a revised judiciary, a new Electoral board and a much better system in place for elections.  In fact, I think America could learn a few things!  When people went to their polling stations, they first had to present their National ID and get their name checked off the list.  Then they gave a fingerprint which was attached to a computer that showed their picture and name and confirmed if they were at the right polling station.  The clerk would also call their name aloud so that others could hear!  Then each person would vote on 6 different ballots for President, Governor, Senator, Parliament, County Rep and Woman Rep.  Each ballot had a different color and were put in the box that was colored the same.  After voting, they had indelible ink put on their finger and were forced to leave the center immediately.  Once the polling station closed, the counting was done in the open, one ballot at a time.  After everyone agrees, then the results are sent by secure text message with a special phone to the tallying center.  And all of this is done in the presence of many international observers.   

The process was designed very well and Kenyans have also been preaching a message of peace.  Media outlets, candidates and other public figures have given speeches and ran advertisements urging Kenyans to accept the result and to maintain peace.  This year for the first time ever, Presidential candidates engaged in open debates.   Much more important than all of that, Kenyans have spent much time over the past five years, and especially in the weeks leading up to the election, in prayer and repentance, asking for God's favor on this country. 

There is a high possibility that nobody will win this election with the 50% + 1 that is necessary (along with 25% in at least half of the 47 counties).  If no one reaches that mark, then there will be a run-off between the 2 top candidates 30 days after the election. 

We are eager to know the result, but that probably won't come until sometime tomorrow.  We go to bed tonight hopeful that no matter what the outcome is, that the day after the election will not look like it did last time!