First, some housekeeping.
For those who’ve addressed me as Mr., Mister, “man”, “brother” etc. – I know si kwa ubaya but please note that I am female – it is important for me to fight stereotypes against women.
Second, I’m a bit miffed that this whole fiasco has jettisoned the family’s plans to go to Naivasha tomorrow I need a break from Nairobi:-(
On to election news.
As has been stated by the guys in the comments section, nothing further from the ECK until tomorrow morning. Some people think this will lower the temperatures, I think it will only get worse. Although some of us might actually sleep without worrying about whether we are missing a big story.
ODM is challenging figures in Tigania, North Imenti and Kiambaa. PNU also has numbers they want to challenge but don’t have the details so far.
And since there are no more official results, you’ll have to endure my storos 
Regarding the ECK, I don’t doubt that Kivuitu is trying to do the best he can, but I have some questions.
With all this confusion about who has the correct numbers, aren’t there like enough guys at the polling station from all parties to confirm when results are read there? This is what the media and the different parties are announcing as provisional results (the fact that all of these guys also have their own numbers is also problematic – si all party agents have to agree to the results before they are announced at the station). Weren’t these results then forwarded to the ECK as provisional results immediately, pending confirmation by the returning officer at KICC? Where then is the discrepancy in numbers between the provisional numbers and the results announced by the ECK coming from? And why is this issue only now being examined after it was raised by individuals from the various parties at today’s press conference? I only expect issues in places like Kajiado North where the counting stopped. And then there is the discrepancy between MP results and Presidential results – one constituency had 30,000 vote for the MP two days ago and then almost 100,000 for the President today – and unless one has been meticulously tracking these numbers things can slip through given the lag between parliamentary results and presidential results even though they were presumably counted AT THE SAME TIME.
Finally, when it was apparent that there were delays from the constituencies why not dispatch some commissioners to fly around in helicopters and find out what is going on on the ground rather than sit at KICC to read results?
I’m just saying.
It is one thing for Kivuitu to state that he will not be bullied into announcing fake results, but yet another for him and the ECK to let things degenerate to this point. His statements that the aggrieved can go to the courts is disingenuous – I respect the rule of law (I am after all a lawyer), but show me an election petition in Kenya that has been resolved in less than at minimum a year (and what with Kibaki’s court packing two weeks ago?).
I’m not really concerned about who wins – I performed my civic duty and voted, but I think either way Kenyans have been presented with a false choice for their president – bado mapambano all around. What concerns me is that the process might have been tampered with after such a fantastic turnout, engagement by the youth and the beginnings of a vote based on performance. Can Kenyans be convinced to trust the process again in 2012? And are any of these leaders thinking ahead about the future of the country? The answer sadly is no and now I’m feeling doubly depressed.
I think I need a glass of wine.
Isn’t sad that our country still has this bizzare capabilty to plunge into chaos and all that is supposed to have been gained can be suddenly lost to hunger for power. Tribalism still rules and is indeed sad
Ory, thank you so much. You are a genius!
I hope that things remain calm inshaaAllah. I will try to sleep tonight although it will be difficult and I will be so anxious by the time I wake up in the morning that I might switch on the PC before I do anything else. I think the arrogance Kivuitu has is not good and sometimes you should be more responsible not least when the fate of a country hangs in the balance. That said, I think Kivutiu has being overpowered by the power of the new comers around him, maybe they were appointed to do this.
Ory et al:
I take strong exception to KenyanCommentator characterization of Samuel Kivuitu as having “the trademark arrogance that normally marks the Kibaki people who feel that they can do whatever they want with the power in their hands”, on the contrary I have been throughly impressed by his impartiality. I am nonetheless concerned about the communications challenges that the ECK seems to be having with their presiding officers in certain precincts.
In fact, I believe that it is only Kivuitu and the ECK that are keeping our country from descending into total chaos. He and his team should be nominated as Kenya’s persons of the year.
I also agree with ECK’s decision to suspend the release of additional results until the morning (while allowing parties to have 2 representatives each shacking up with the ECK overnight to prevent malfeasance.) Releasing results could result in chaos in the dark that will be difficult for the security personnel to been a handle on.
However, all in all, I think that the riots and demonstrations are good for our democracy. As Jefferson said:
“What country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them … The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.”
-Silaha
Riging or no rigging a situation with Kibaki as president and parliament controlled by ODM, greatly curbs presidential powers; could result in a government consisting mainly of ODM people; giving Raila actual power. This could become the perfect balance for Kenya, with each watching the other so closely that they are forced to make the right choices. However, it could also result in stalemate and (God forbid) deteriorate to civil war.
Dear Honorary Kenyan ,
you say that one party will have a bigger say in parliament ansd so there will be checks and balances. I am sorry to disappoint you because the next action will be to buy out some of the opposition fellas just like it was in the last parliament.
The best opportunity is now lost which would have enabled total overhaul of the political system. Brace yourself fo another five years of MK.
Darkness or daylight, whatever the case may be, do not deter any violence as was evident with the nascent lawlessness and destruction yesterday in the few places it was reported. If the results are ready and reasonably non-contestable, then it is the duty of the ECK to duly announce them. I too am of the school of thought that any further delay results in greater anxiety, therefore the propensity for even more violence. I am not in Kenya, but what I see in the media here is enough to worry me. In fact, were it not for Ory’s good work updating those of us away, I would be a deeply worried man by now. Keep up the great job you are doing, you are such a gem. Despite the ECK & Kivuitu’s efforts, it is unfortunate that there is strong evidence of widespread tampering with the ballots. The fact that results from just afew constituencies will be re-evaluated does not validate the rest of them all. I don’t envy Kivuitu’s job, he’s got such a serious mess to clean up and he will not. We could as well resign ourselves to being led by a government elected through a seriously flawed electoral process.
Come on Ory
What did I say today that was so terrible? In fact I just reiterated what you said..anyways I understand your delicate stance at this point. I think Ill just stick to mashada :).
Thank you for keeping us informed Ms. Pundit. I appreciate it.
Talked to parents this morning and they are nervous. I suspect that anger is very high. If things are kept transparent, then there may be disappointment without anger. I don’t mind whichever way it goes as long as it is done fairly. The last thing Kenya needs is a civil war, and any not of impropriety will send us into that.
I hope all works out. Like most others I will be turning on the pc!
Good night
This is how i see things turning out kesho:
The ECK will announce Kibaki as the winner by a margin of about 80,000 votes (give or take), which will spark a few skirmishes here and there, hence, a temporarily curfew might be imposed soon after depending on how things turn out.
I just hope am wrong.
Its just very unfortunate thats how i can sum up my feelings. I think that the kenyan citizens have spoken very clearly through their votes but unfortunately this so called democratic process has failed everybody miserably. My only fear is that which ever candidate that with be declared victorious there will be some blood shed until things come to a calm. If they do come to a calm.
Good job Ory thanks for giving me the avenue of self expression. I love it.
When you say bado mapambano, to many that word evokes chaos. we remain in the same state of mind and physical aggression. If we loose (ODM) lets not pambana. Instead, Lets talk. Lets talk.
I think with the new MPs we can accomplish much. We should have those condom adverts a few years ago which said Lets Talk. Not pambana.
Unfortunately Candi is probably right. Nevertheless, this time, there will be many more, that will have to be bought off…hopefully the price will become too high to be feasible
Without establishing right or wrong, or making an assessment of what could have been if they won the presidency, I expect extended unrest instigated by the ODM frustrated candidate. That is what those busloads of APs were all about. To try to control the rioting after the election.
Kenya will be going through some very difficult times over the next few weeks or months.
With Orengo,Ruto,Raila on opposition,will keep the government on toes and transparent.
We have not lost.
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