Kenya Election 2022: Race to Elect President for the East Africa's Giant

Kenyans are heading to the polls on Tuesday, the 9th of August to select the successor to President Uhuru Kenyatta. Polls opened on Tuesday in a dynamic presidential election in Kenya, where a longtime opposition leader who is backed by the outgoing president faces a deputy president who styles himself as an outsider. Hundreds of voters lined up hours ahead of polls opening in some locations.  Kenya is a regional economic giant and what happens there affects the rest of East Africa.

At the conclusion of the election, the winner will become the fifth President of Kenya, taking over from its current leader President Uhuru Kenyetta.

Profile of the Presidential Candidates

Raila Odinga, 77, popularly known as "Baba" (Father), "Agwambo" (Act of God) and "Tinga" (Tractor) is a Businessman running umber the umbrella of the Orange Democratic Party. This will be his fifth attempt trying to hold power, since he was Prime Minister in 2008. He has promised to improve the lives of Kenyans living in poverty, by giving them 6,000 Kenyan shillings ($50) monthly, as well as providing top-notch and affordable health care services. 

David Waihiga, 75, is a Lawyer, Pastor running under the purview of the Agano Party. This is Mr. Waihiga sixth attempt at running for political office. He says if he wins, he will return the sum of $125 billion dollars that have been stashed overseas, he also promises to make available loans and grants to help women and the youth start and run small enterprises. 

George Wajackoyah, 63, is a Lawyer and a former Policeman, running under the domain of the Roots Party of Kenya. Mr Wajackoyah has promised to legalize industrial marijuana, boost snake farming, and export dog meat and hyena testicles. He has also promised to shut the Chinese built and funded $5 billion standard gauge railway that links the capital, Nairobi, with the port of Mombasa, in addition to suspending the constitution and deporting foreigners. 

William Ruto, 55, is the current Deputy President of Kenya and Teacher. He is running inside the wheelbarrow of the United Democratic Alliance and has pledged to invest at least 500 billion shillings in farming, which employs more than 40% of the labor force, and in small businesse.

Kenya is the regional economic giant of East Africa, housing a number of 56 million people, 8 provinces and 175 local authorities classified as county councils (67), municipal councils (43), town councils (62) and city councils (3). In these eight provinces a number of 22.2 million people are registered and ready to let their votes count. 

Here’s a breakdown of the registered voters per province:

• Mount Kenya – 5.7 million
• Rift Valley – 5.3 million
• Nyanza – 3.1 million
• Central Kenya – 3.1 million
• Coastal – 1.9 million
• Ukambani – 1.6 million
• Upper Eastern – 1.5 million

Presidential Election Results: 

Note: Mustard Insights updated election results as published by BBC and IEBC