Comparing Kenya and Nigeria's election stalemate
19 March 2023 By Abiodun Kareem Giwa
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, and Willim Ruto
Kenya's Raila Odinga's mass action in Kenya will kick off on Monday, news reports from Kenya indicate. Odinga lost the presidential election in August 2022 to the incumbent President William Ruto and alleged a stolen presidency. He went to court and lost the legal battle. However, he is ready to fight on the street, challenging Ruto's government to address the country's problematic economic situation.
Following the stalemate over the elections reflects developments in Nigeria, another African country, over disagreement on election results. There is a lesson for Nigerians in Kenyans' experience.
President Ruto, the winner of Kenya's election, was a vice president to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the immediate past president. Kenyatta supported Odinga to the chagrin of Ruto. He failed to congratulate Ruto following the election results that favored Ruto. He later congratulated all who won elections when questioned by the media over his silence to congratulate his former vice-president.
Kenyatta and curious observers of Kenya events know why Kenyatta supported Odinga instead of Ruto and how Ruto defeated his boss and a very popular politician like Odinga. Kenyans gave credence to the cry of a stolen mandate that was so loud and felt Odinga could retrieve the victory.
Following the stalemate over the elections reflects developments in Nigeria, another African country, over disagreement on election results. There is a lesson for Nigerians in Kenyans' experience.
President Ruto, the winner of Kenya's election, was a vice president to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the immediate past president. Kenyatta supported Odinga to the chagrin of Ruto. He failed to congratulate Ruto following the election results that favored Ruto. He later congratulated all who won elections when questioned by the media over his silence to congratulate his former vice-president.
Kenyatta and curious observers of Kenya events know why Kenyatta supported Odinga instead of Ruto and how Ruto defeated his boss and a very popular politician like Odinga. Kenyans gave credence to the cry of a stolen mandate that was so loud and felt Odinga could retrieve the victory.
Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi
There was an allegation Odinga's result went to the winner and Ruto's result to Odinga. An alleged whistleblower - an election official - from the election office reportedly said. The loser demanded to see all the election office servers and other materials used for the election, just like losers in Nigeria's presidential election recently requested after a cry of a stolen election.
Odinga went to court in Kenya and lost. And like Kenya, Nigeria's election losers have also gone to court, seeking justice. Nigeria also has a president-elect, Bola Tinubu, while Atiku Abubakar - the runner-up, and Peter Obi, who is in the third position, await the outcome of a court's intervention.
Ruto had extended a hand of fellowship to Odinga. Still, the latter prefers working with other parties protesting the economic situation in Kenya but lost the support of a significant party that has chosen to cooperate with the government than cause chaos in Kenya. Bola Tinubu, Nigeria's president-elect, prefers a competent government against unity. So, losers may have to consider active opposition like Odinga than expect a role in a government to be formed by the winner if they lose the legal battle.
Odinga went to court in Kenya and lost. And like Kenya, Nigeria's election losers have also gone to court, seeking justice. Nigeria also has a president-elect, Bola Tinubu, while Atiku Abubakar - the runner-up, and Peter Obi, who is in the third position, await the outcome of a court's intervention.
Ruto had extended a hand of fellowship to Odinga. Still, the latter prefers working with other parties protesting the economic situation in Kenya but lost the support of a significant party that has chosen to cooperate with the government than cause chaos in Kenya. Bola Tinubu, Nigeria's president-elect, prefers a competent government against unity. So, losers may have to consider active opposition like Odinga than expect a role in a government to be formed by the winner if they lose the legal battle.
