MAMELLO MATIKINCA: Kenya's poll rerun: good for democracy but bad for economy
While election years in Kenya have always promised to be eventful, nothing quite like an annulment of the presidential electoral outcome, an Africa first, could have been foreseen. The first, and presumed only, national elections had been scheduled for August 8. Presidential candidates Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party and Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance had long been the frontrunners. Securing 54% of the vote, Kenyatta had been awarded his second five-year term, a fair margin above Odinga's 45%, or so one thought. Shortly after, the Supreme Court declared the national elections null and void, upon petition from opposition parties, citing the failure of the election board to verify the election results prior to the presidential announcement. This triggered a second election, to be held by the end of October. One could argue that an election rerun strongly supports the drive towards a democratic society. However, it has come at the opportunity cost of hampering economic...
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