GoodLuck Jonathan monitors Kenya Presidential elections
By Othuke Evroh
The Kenya Government is hoping for a peaceful transition of Government as former President Goodluck Jonathan Monitors the Kenya Presidential Polls.
President Uhuru Kenyatta will step down at the end of the election after the end of his two term rule that lasted almost a decade.
The major frontrunners to succeed President Kenyatta are the incumbent Deputy President, William Ruto and the veteran opposition leader Rail Odinga.
It is worthwhile to state that though President Kenyatta has endorsed the renowned opposition leader, Rail Odinga after he fell out with his Deputy, all three men were involved in the 2007 Presidential election which President Uhuru Kenyatta won regardless that his deputy, William Ruto backed the popular Rail Odinga.
Though Polls were supposed to close at 6 PM local time, there were reports that voting was extended in some locations. In addition, diaspora voters in countries such as the UK, US, Canada, UAE, Germany, South Sudan, South Africa, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania Rwanda, and Qatar are expected to vote during the elections.
The Presidential candidates need to secure more than half of the valid votes cast and at least a quarter of the ballots cast in half of Kenya’s 47 counties to succeed the incumbent President. However, if no candidate gets that requirement, a fresh election shall be held within 30 days in which the first two runner up will be up against each other.
Any court challenge must be submitted within seven days of the declaration of the results. The court must then hear and determine the petition within 14 days. Its decision shall be final.
The 2022 Presidential Election of Kenya from the outset is similar to Nigeria’s as it is marred by vote buying and very high campaign spendings.
It is also worthy to state that Kenya just like Nigeria is faced with similar Socio- Political quagmire such as very high unemployment rate, inflation rate, insecurity, poverty, among others.
Come August 16, the winner of the Presidential Election in Kenya would be announced.
