Uhuru Kenyatta poised for victory in Kenyan election
Source: The Guardian
Uhuru Kenyatta, accused by the international criminal court (ICC) of committing crimes against humanity, looked set on Friday night to win Kenya's presidency. But there were concerns about the credibility of a vote in which deputy prime minister Kenyatta led the prime minister, Raila Odinga, by about 7% with more than 80% of constituencies having reported. Diplomats were worried they might have to weaken ties with the East African nation if Kenyatta is elected.
The ballot went off relatively smoothly on Monday, despite widespread fears of violence. Five years ago, more than 1,200 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced over disputed polls, and Kenyatta is accused of organising that violence. But excepting a few coastal skirmishes, this time the elections were peaceful, winning praise from international observers.
However, the vote counting has been marred by delays and technological breakdowns since then. The problems began almost immediately when thousands of electronic voter identification devices failed, forcing poll workers to use the slower method of printed lists. Once voting finished, bigger problems started, beginning with a glitch in an electronic transmission system designed to securely send results to the national tallying centre in Nairobi.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) identified the problem as low disk space which caused a slowdown in transmission, and declared the issue solved. But by Wednesday afternoon, only 40% of results were in, so IEBC chairperson, Ahmed Issack Hassan, decided to scrap the whole apparatus and call the 291 constituency officers to Nairobi for a manual tally.
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/08/uhuru-kenyatta-kenyan-election
NYT analysis: "Vote Count Leader in Kenya Faces U.S. With Tough Choices":
Or would that put at risk all the other strategic American interests vested in Kenya, a vital ally in a volatile region and a crucial hub for everything from billion-dollar health programs and American corporations to spying on agents of Al Qaeda?
Even the little things could be tricky. Are the American diplomats who interact with the Kenyan government on a daily basis not supposed to shake Mr. Kenyatta's hand? What about sharing a dais with him? The British have already publicly stated that they will avoid any contact unless it is essential.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Can you provide some insights?
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)I'm asking about the person in the OP. Was wondering if the poster had any additional insights to share.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)(Although it was factually accurate...Jomo Kenyatta did play a supporting role in Robeson's "SANDERS OF THE RIVER" in 1935-and later did a few other things, of course).
I don't really know anything about Uhuru.
alfredo
(60,071 posts)Mahindru was shaking down Indians who were being driven out of Kenya by Jomo Kenyatta. Under Kenyatta's nationalization program, the Indians weren't allowed to take their money with them. One way they could get their money out was to pay Kenyatta. This is where Mahindru came in. He was Kenyatta's right hand man. He was the man who did the shakedown for Kenyatta.
I accidentally walked into a negotiation one day. Mahindru said I cost him $18,000 just by coming into the room at that time. He didn't blame me. I wasn't told of the meeting, and wasn't told not to come down stairs.
Boabab
(120 posts)when there are persons in the "west" who have committed far greater crimes against humanity.
Or perhaps it isn't so strange.
The organization should simply be re-named "IPA" - International Prosecution of Africans. It would be a much more honest moniker.
JCMach1
(27,556 posts)By 4000 some votes by just avoiding a run-off with Raila Odinga.
Now we have to see if the.endgame brings violence again. Worst possible outcome and they gave the result at 4am CAT. After saying they would announce at 11AM.
JCMach1
(27,556 posts)some sporadic violence has erupted per the last US Embassy warning.
Kenyatta was confirmed as President Elect this afternoon.
Am seriously hoping things don't go downhill from here.