CNN
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Kenyans head to the polls on Tuesday in a crucial election as outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to hand over power to a new leader.
Nearly 22 million Kenyans have registered to vote, The country’s electoral body (IEBC) saidAnd voting opens from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET Monday through 10 a.m. ET Tuesday).
According to local media, voters across the country started queuing up as early as 2 am local time at some places.
Analysts say the race is close and no leading candidate has voted significantly more than the other. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the election will go to a run-off for the first time in Kenya’s history.
According to Tuesday’s presidential election opinion pollsIt is believed to be a two-horse race between Vice President William Ruto, 55, and veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, 77.
Odinga is a businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Kenya for five years following the controversial presidential election of December 2007, which resulted in widespread protests and violence, More than 1,000 people died.
Odinga is part of the political dynasty of Kenya; His father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was the first vice president of independent Kenya.
He Earned Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering He was a one-time lecturer at the University of Nairobi in 1970 after studying in East Germany and abroad.
He says he is taking part in voting for the fifth and final time, after failing in his last four attempts.
Odinga has the support of former rival President Kenyatta, who overlooked his deputy Ruto for the top post.
Affectionately known as “Baba” by Kenyans, he has pledged to establish social security and a universal health care program, called babacare For poor families. Free education up to the college level is also a part of their plans.
It could be the year of Odinga, says political reporter and analyst Moses Odiambo.
“There is a feeling that whichever side the government leans, it wins. If you borrow from the opinion polls, Raila has an advantage,” Odiambo told CNN.
Odinga’s main rival, Ruto, describes himself as a “hustler-in-chief”, citing his humble beginnings as a chicken vendor, who worked his way to one of Kenya’s highest political offices. fought.
Ruto, a former teacher who holds a doctorate in plant ecology from the University of Nairobi, has taken a populist “man-of-the-people” approach designed to capture youth – Kenya’s largest voting bloc.
And he seems to be succeeding, veteran political analyst Herman Maniora told CNN: “Ruto has excited young people … in an almost euphoric sense. It may help them to vote and vote.”
Ruto vows to prioritize Kenya’s economy and “Upliftment of Citizens” If the President is elected.
“There is a world of difference between me and my competitor. I have a plan, he doesn’t,” Ruto says of Odinga.
wait was also tried with Kenyatta In 2013 at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity following the 2007 election violence. However, the allegation later kicked out,
Although the election will bring changes in administration, Ruto and Odinga’s affiliation with the current government does not provide a new political phenomenon, argues analyst Odiambo.
“In advance runners, people are inclined to strike a balance between what is perceived as consistency and freshness within a continuum,” Odiambo said.
“Ruto is the vice president and part of the current government. There is a belief that Odinga may be an extension of the current president because of the support the president has given him.”
Among the major pressing issues for voters are a myriad of economic problems ranging from rising debt to high food and fuel prices and rampant youth unemployment.
Some parts of the country are suffering from severe drought, posing a threat of raise issues of growing insecurity,
Analyst Manyora says that many Kenyans, especially young people, are disenchanted with the government and may boycott the elections.
“There are things that can affect the turnout. One is the high cost of living in the country, helplessness and despair among the youth, unemployment, poverty levels, and people not seeing what the politicians are doing for them,” said the analyst.
He said Kenya’s problems should generally prompt his countrymen to vote for the right candidates, regardless of tribe, but he is not “quite annoyed”.
“One would expect Kenyans to come out in large numbers in elections because of these problems and express their anger at the high cost of living by voting for those responsible… I don’t think Kenyans are at a point where they are angry enough. To turn anger into political action,” Manyora told CNN.
Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin and Luo are four East African countries. most populous ethnic group,
Outgoing leader Kenyatta is among them three out of four Kenyan presidents The dominant Kikuyu ethnic group has emerged since the country gained independence in 1963.
“The problem in this country is that tribal views outweigh everything else… Most votes will be based on tribe; very few votes will come from important voters,” said analyst Manyora.
Ruto is from the Kalenjin tribe, and Odinga is from the Luo ethnic group.
The two men toured the country and sought support from people outside their strongholds before ending the campaign over the weekend.
Both candidates chose their running mate from one of Kenya’s largest voting blocks – Kikuyu – also known as the Mount Kenya region.
Ruto is running with first-time MP Rigathi Gachagua, while Odinga is contesting with former justice minister and one-time presidential candidate Martha Karua.
If elected, Karua will become Kenya’s first female Vice President. Analyst Odiambo says the choice of Odinga’s running mate has excited women in Kenya.
“There is a growing wave of support around the female leadership, which has been intensified by the choice of Martha by Odinga as her running mate,” he said.
Women represent 49% of Kenya’s registered voters, according For the Election Commission of the country.
Only the Kikuyu and Kalenjin tribes form the country’s presidents and this is the first election where none of the leading candidates is a Kikuyu.
No candidate from the Luo tribe has won the presidential election.