KENYA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT

On August 9, more than 14 million Kenyans across the country and diaspora voted for their county and national government representatives.

After six days of anxious waiting that have been dotted with propaganda, misinformation, fake news, accusations and counter-accusations, and lots of speculation, in a few hours, the IEBC will declare the results of the 2022 presidential election.

On Monday morning, the auditorium at the Bomas cultural hall in Nairobi was clean, reorganized, and had few people. Contingents of security officers drawn from various police departments took full charge of the Bomas. The 15 desks the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners tallied and verified results were empty, a perfect signal of a concluded exercise.

The Bomas of today is almost the complete opposite of its version from last week. In the days and nights of the count and verification, the hall was marred with fracas, push and pull, and ugly scenes that exposed the fragile underbelly of the Kenyan ruling class. The chaos stretched the patience limits of the security officers, who undoubtedly held themselves back from acting even after multiple provocations.

A few minutes after 11, envoys and people presumed to be the election observers started streaming into the Bomas to attend the final announcement on the results of who won the hotly-contested presidential election.

Deputy President William Ruto and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, believed to be on his final run for the presidency after 4 previous failed attempts, are locked in a tight race that could go either way.

It is in this historic auditorium that today, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati, will once again rise and head straight to the podium and address a nation full of expectations and fears in equal measure. He will announce the winner of the August 9th Presidential poll, end the long wait, and set the ball rolling for the next stage- the loser is likely to challenge the outcome at the Supreme Court.

Winners and losers for all the other seats have been known and officially declared. The presidential results are the most awaited as they have far-reaching effects that cut across ethnic lines, regional developments, and the power play.

In anticipation of the grand announcement, businesses and offices in various towns in Kenya have been suspended. The presidential election attracted four candidates: George Wajackoyah of Roots Party, Mwaure Waihiga of Agano Party, Raila Odinga of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya, and William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance.