1992 Kenyan general election explained

Country:Kenya
Previous Election:1988 Kenyan general election
Previous Year:1988
Next Election:1997 Kenyan general election
Next Year:1997
Module:
Embed:yes
Type:presidential
Election Name:Presidential election
Image1:Daniel arap Moi in 1979 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Daniel arap Moi
Party1:Kenya African National Union
Popular Vote1:1,962,866
Percentage1:36.35%
Nominee2:Kenneth Matiba
Party2:Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Asili
Popular Vote2:1,404,266
Percentage2:26.00%
Image4:Mwai Kibaki, October 2003.jpg
Nominee4:Mwai Kibaki
Party4:Democratic Party (Kenya)
Popular Vote4:1,050,617
Percentage4:19.45%
Image5:Jaramogi Oginga Odinga face.jpg
Nominee5:Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Party5:Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya
Popular Vote5:944,197
Percentage5:17.48%
President
Before Election:Daniel arap Moi
Before Party:Kenya African National Union
After Election:Daniel arap Moi
After Party:Kenya African National Union
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Parliamentary election
First Election:yes
Nopercentage:yes
Party1:Kenya African National Union
Leader1:Daniel Arap Moi
Seats1:100
Last Election1:188
Party2:Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Asili
Leader2:Kenneth Matiba
Seats2:31
Last Election2:new
Party3:Democratic Party (Kenya)
Leader3:Mwai Kibaki
Seats3:23
Last Election3:new
Seats4:31
Last Election4:new
Party5:KNC
Colour5:black
Leader5:Chibule wa Tsuma
Seats5:1
Last Election5:new
Party6:PICK
Leader6:John Harun Mwau
Seats6:1
Last Election6:new
Party7:KSC
Leader7:George Anyona
Seats7:1
Last Election7:new
Before Election:Jonathan Kimetet arap Ng'eno
Before Party:Kenya African National Union
After Election:Francis ole Kaparo
After Party:Kenya African National Union
Speaker of the National Assembly

General elections were held in Kenya on 29 December 1992 to elect the president and members of the National Assembly. They were the first multi-party general elections in Kenya since independence and the first to feature a direct vote for the president, who had been elected by the National Assembly in 1964 and been automatically declared the winner of uncontested elections held alongside parliamentary elections in 1969, 1974, 1979, 1983 and 1988 following a 1969 constitutional amendment.

The results were marred by allegations of large-scale intimidation of opponents, harassment of election officials and ballot-box stuffing, as well as targeted ethnic violence in the Rift Valley Province. Human Rights Watch accused several prominent Kenyan politicians, including President Daniel arap Moi and then-VP George Saitoti of inciting and co-ordinating the violence.[1] Voter turnout was 69%.[2] [3]

Background

In 1991, Kenya transitioned to a multiparty political system after 26 years of single-party rule under KANU. On 28 October 1992, president Moi dissolved parliament, five months before the end of his term. As a result, preparations began for all elective seats in parliament as well as the president. The elections were scheduled to take place on 7 December 1992, but delays led to its postponement to 29 December the same year.

Results

By province

ProvinceMoiMatibaKibakiOdingaOthersTotal
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
Central21,9182.1630,19460.4373,14735.810,6681.06,9450.71,042,872
Coast188,29662.133,39911.032,20110.642,79614.16,6532.2303,345
Eastern290,37237.079,43610.1392,48150.013,6731.78,8191.1784,781
North Eastern46,42074.87,18811.63,2595.35,0848.2730.162,024
Nairobi62,41016.6165,55344.169,71518.675,88820.21,9440.5375,510
Nyanza117,55415.210,2991.351,9986.7581,49075.49,8071.3771,148
Rift Valley981,48871.5214,72715.698,3027.275,4655.53,5350.31,373,517
Western219,18739.3214,06038.414,4042.698,82217.710,8461.9557,319
Total1,927,64536.61,354,85625.71,035,50719.6903,88617.148,6220.95,270,516
align=left colspan=13Source: Nohlen et al.

National Assembly

Following the elections, Moi nominated a further 12 KANU members to the National Assembly.[4]

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the election, Kenya suffered an economic crisis propagated by ethnic violence as the president was accused of rigging electoral results to retain power.[5] In the next five years, many political alliances were formed in preparation for the next elections. In 1994, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died and several coalitions joined his FORD Kenya party to form a new party called United National Democratic Alliance. However, this party was plagued with disagreements. In 1996, KANU revised the constitution to allow Moi to remain president for another term.

In 1993 Kenneth Matiba filed a petition against the election results. However, his failure to personally sign the petition resulted in the petition being struck out by Justice Riaga Omolo. Matiba, was physically incapacitated and had given his wife power of attorney. In 2012, Justice Omolo was declared unfit to serve in the judiciary by the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board over this decision.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Human Rights Watch (1993) Divide and Rule: State Sponsored Ethnic Violence in Kenya
  2. http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2167_92.htm Elections held in 1992
  3. [Dieter Nohlen]
  4. http://africanelections.tripod.com/ke.html Elections in Kenya
  5. Book: Keith., Kyle. Politics of the independence of Kenya. 1999. Macmillan. 978-0333720080. 795968156.
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20130115045603/http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-102535/why-election-may-be-won-courts Why this election may be won in courts