Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called for a return to manual voting in Kenya, saying that he wants his vote and those of his grandchildren to truly count. Musyoka, a former vice president, has expressed concerns about the digital voting system, stating that results still take a similar amount of time to be finalized.
He has called on the legislative branch of government to revisit the issue and consider switching back to manual voting. Musyoka also claimed that many Kenyans have lost faith in the electoral system, feeling that their votes do not truly matter.
Kenya’s elections have long been marred by allegations of vote rigging and manipulation. In 2017, these concerns reached a boiling point when the Supreme Court nullified the presidential elections due to irregularities and illegalities in the voting process.
The nullification was a historic moment for Kenya, as it marked the first time that a court had overturned the results of a presidential election in Africa. The decision was met with both praise and controversy, with some hailing it as a victory for democracy and others decrying it as a threat to stability.
The 2017 elections were marked by a contentious rivalry between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga. The race was initially too close to call, with both candidates claiming victory and alleging fraud on the part of their opponent.
The situation worsened when the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Kenyatta the winner, leading Odinga to challenge the results in court. The Supreme Court ultimately found that the IEBC had failed to conduct the elections in accordance with the law and nullified the results.
In response to the nullification, the opposition led by Raila Odinga boycotted the re-run of the elections, leading to Uhuru Kenyatta being declared the winner. However, the two eventually reconciled and formed a unity government, with former President Uhuru Kenyatta even endorsing Raila Odinga in the most recent elections. These elections were again marred by controversy, with the Supreme Court ultimately declaring William Ruto the winner.
