Geographies in Depth

Today Kenya's goes to the polls. Here's what we know

A policeman casts his vote at a polling station in Moi Avenue primary school during the presidential election, in the city centre, Nairobi, Kenya August 8, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTS1ATI4

Kenyan politics has seen many significant events occur over the last decade. Image: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Reuters Staff
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Today, Kenyans go to the polls, in a tense election pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta against long-time rival Raila Odinga. Following are significant events in Kenyan politics over the last decade:

* Dec. 27, 2007 - Odinga alleged vote-rigging after the election commission abruptly stops tallying and announces incumbent President Mwai Kibaki has won. Protests and ethnic violence kill around 1,200 people and displaces 600,000.

* Feb. 28, 2008 - Power sharing government formed. Mwai Kibaki remains president and Raila Odinga is prime minister.

* Aug. 27, 2010 - New constitution devolves power and money to 47 newly created counties, spreading opportunities for political patronage and removing the winner-takes-all trigger for violence in the next presidential election.

* April 9, 2013 - Uhuru Kenyatta sworn in as the fourth president after a bitter contest against Odinga, who challenged the outcome after the widespread failure of electronic voting equipment. Results upheld at the Supreme Court.

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* Dec. 5, 2014 - The International Criminal Court (ICC) drops charges of crimes against humanity against Kenyatta. The case against Kenyatta's deputy William Ruto collapses in April.

* Oct. 5, 2016 - All 10 members of the electoral commission resign after a deal reached by the government and the opposition, following the months of violent protests led by Odinga against the commission.

* July 31, 2017 – Chris Msando, the senior manager of information technology systems at the election commission, is found tortured and murdered, raising fears about the credibility of the vote.

* Aug. 8, 2017 - Polls open for 19 million registered voters to pick their president, parliament and regional authorities.

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Geographies in DepthGeo-Economics and Politics
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