Devolution has demystified local power and emboldened voters to assert themselves, leading to shocks all the way up the political pyramid Nairobi, Kenya | AFRICAN ARGUMENTS | Kenya’s 2017 elections are set to be the country’s most interesting yet. The political landscape has shifted, and whatever else these elections turn out to be …
Read More »Kenyan president skips poll debate, gives rival the floor
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was a no-show Monday at a televised debate ahead of August 8 elections, leaving his main rival Raila Odinga alone to field questions. Both candidates had initially pulled out of the final debate, but after a change in format Odinga agreed …
Read More »Kenyans of Asian origin become 44th official tribe
South Asia heritage Kenyans formally recognised Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya said Saturday it had granted formal recognition to citizens of Indo-Pakistani origin, with President Uhuru Kenyatta making them a 44th tribe. “I do hereby recognize, proclaim and order, 1.that Kenyans of Asian Heritage constitute a Community that is …
Read More »Kenya MP faces contempt charge for ethnic comments
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenyan police said on Friday they had arrested an opposition parliamentarian on suspicion of “ethnic contempt” over a public address he made ahead of next month’s tight presidential election. Junet Mohammed, a high-ranking member of leading opposition candidate Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement, was taken …
Read More »Kenya court overturns ruling on presidential ballot contract
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s appeals court on Thursday quashed a ruling cancelling a contract to print presidential ballot papers, a victory for the electoral commission less than three weeks before general elections. The decision comes two weeks after the high court ordered the electoral commission to start a …
Read More »THIS WEEK: Kenyatta warns rivals on use of courts to delay elections
THIS WEEK: Kenyatta warns rivals on use of courts to delay elections As Aug.08 when Kenya goes to the polls fast approaches, presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta who is vying for a second term of office has expressed reservations on the judiciary. Speaking during a rally in western Kenya, Kenyatta who …
Read More »Kenyatta talks tough on election date, warns judiciary and IEBC
Kenyatta urges Kenya courts not to ‘aid opposition to sabotage polls’ KABARTONJO, Baringo County | PSCU KENYA | President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto today cautioned Kenya’s judiciary “not to aid the opposition to scuttle the election process.” The two leaders accused the courts of increasingly getting entangled in what …
Read More »Kenya court cancels presidential ballot printing contract
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | A Kenyan court on Friday cancelled a contract to print presidential ballot papers for next month’s elections after the opposition claimed the winning company had links to President Uhuru Kenyatta. The election commission had awarded the $24 million contract to Dubai-based Al Ghurair. A panel …
Read More »Kenya president Kenyatta, Odinga to skip televised election debates
Kenya’s main candidates pull out of televised election debate Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Both Kenya’s leading presidential contenders have pulled out of two planned televised debates ahead of the August 8 election, their parties said Wednesday. President Uhuru Kenyatta withdrew first, followed by his main rival Raila Odinga. The first …
Read More »EU deploys Kenya election observers, warns against possible violence
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The EU warned Monday of possible violence in Kenya’s elections as it deployed observers ahead of the August 8 poll pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta against his longtime rival Raila Odinga. The European Union said the threat of poll clashes which pushed Kenya to the brink …
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