Decision 2022: Kenya goes to the polls

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NAIROBI: It’s election day in Kenya in what is anticipated to be a closely fought presidential battle between Deputy President William Ruto and seasoned opposition figure Raila Odinga.

With Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua serving as his deputy, Dr. Ruto is making his first run for the presidency and aims to defeat all obstacles.

Dr. Ruto has survived numerous political storms, including those in which President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has backed Mr. Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, had most of his allies removed from various legislative positions by the ruling party Jubilee.

After failing in his previous tries in 1997, 2007, 2013, and 2017, Mr. Odinga is making his fifth and perhaps final bid to win the nation’s top job.

Last week’s release of the final pre-election polls showed Mr. Odinga ahead of Dr. Ruto, but the DP has disputed the results as being fabricated.

Other candidates in the contest for the State House include George Wajackoyah and Justina Wambui of the Roots party, both of whom have based their campaigns on the legalization of cannabis, and David Mwaure Waihiga, who is being deputized by Ruth Mucheru on the Agano Party ticket.

However, neither of them have made much of an impression in any polls, leaving Dr. Ruto and Mr. Odinga to compete head-to-head.