Elections in Kenya
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Elections in Kenya take place within the framework of a multi-party democracy and a presidential system. The President, Senate and National Assembly are directly elected by voters, with elections organised by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Electoral history
Nationwide elections have taken place in
All five Indian seats were filled by election in the
The 1961 elections were the first held under universal suffrage, although 20 of the 65 seats in the expanded Council were reserved for Europeans (10), Indians (8) and Arabs (2). The Kenya African National Union (KANU) emerged as the largest party, winning 19 seats and taking 67.5% of the vote. The electoral system was changed again prior to the 1963 elections, with the creation of a 129-seat House of Representatives and a 38-seat Senate. KANU won a majority in the House of Representatives and the most seats in the Senate, allowing Jomo Kenyatta to become the first Prime Minister, and upon independence the following year, President.
Multi-party politics remained in place for a few years after independence; when several KANU MPs left the party to form the Kenya People's Union (KPU) in 1966, a constitutional amendment was passed requiring them to face by-elections. This came to be known as the little general election, in which the KPU received a majority of the vote, but KANU won more than 60% of the seats. Later in the year the Senate was abolished, as it was merged with the House of Representatives to form the National Assembly. The KPU was subsequently banned in 1969 and Kenya became a one-party state. As a result, KANU won every seat in elections in 1969, 1974, 1979, 1983 and 1988, with the elections seeing multiple KANU candidates run against each other.
With the wave of democratisation sweeping across Africa in the early 1990s, multi-party politics was reintroduced, together with the direct election of the president. General elections took place in 1992, and saw KANU retain control of the government, with President Daniel arap Moi re-elected with 36% of the vote and KANU winning 100 of the 188 seats in the National Assembly. Moi was re-elected again in 1997 with 40% of the vote, whilst KANU retained its parliamentary majority, taking 107 of the 210 seats.
The
A new constitution was introduced in 2010, and the first elections were held under it in 2013. Running as the Jubilee Alliance candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta defeated Odinga, receiving 50.5% of the vote. Although Kenyatta's National Alliance emerged as the largest party in the re-established Senate, Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement won the most seats in the National Assembly, with 96 of the 349 seats. The 2017 general elections saw Kenyatta defeat Odinga again for the presidency, with Kenyatta's Jubilee Party winning the most seats in the National Assembly and Senate. However, the presidential election results were annulled and a re-run held in October, which was won by Kenyatta after a boycott by Odinga. In the 2022 elections William Ruto defeated Odinga in the presidential elections, Odinga's Azimio la Umoja coalition won the most seats in the National Assembly, while Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance won the most seats in the Senate.
Referendums
Two nationwide referendums have been held in Kenya, both on proposed new constitutions. A 2005 referendum saw the proposed constitution rejected by 58% of voters, whilst a 2010 referendum saw a new constitution approved by 69% of voters.
Electoral system
The electoral system in Kenya.[1]
President
The 2010 constitution provides for a two-round system for presidential elections, the president having previously been elected on a first-past-the-post basis. To win in the first round, a candidate is required to receive over 50% of the vote, as well as 25% of the vote in at least 24 counties.[2][3]
Parliament
The National Assembly has 350 members, of which 290 are elected in single-member constituencies and 47 are reserved for women and are elected from single-member constituencies based on the 47 counties; all are elected by first-past-the-post voting.[4] The remaining 13 seats include 12 nominated by political parties based on their number of seats and a Speaker.[5]
The Senate has 68 seats, of which 47 are elected from single-member constituencies based on the counties using first-past-the-post, and the remaining 21 are appointed; 16 women based on party's seat numbers, two representing disabled groups and two representing youth (both of which must consist of a male and female nominee) and one elected Speaker.[6]
References
- ^ "The Six Types of Elections in Kenya". AfroCave. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Presidential Candidates Kenya Diaspora Vote
- ^ Article 138 (4) Constitution of Kenya 2010
- ^ Electoral system IPU
- ^ About the National Assembly Parliament of Kenya
- ^ About the Senate Parliament of Kenya
External links
- Elections in Kenya African Elections Database (of historical interest only; last updated in 2012)
- Kenya Psephos