Exit polls, surveys taken of voters as they leave polling centers, provide the most comprehensive information on the issues, perceptions and attitudes that matter to voters selecting candidates for office. They are used worldwide to help scholars, politicians, parties and citizens understand these important characteristics of the electorate. First and foremost, exit polls seek to understand what determines why a person votes the way they do. What factors, including demographic characteristics and evaluations of government, contribute to the choice that citizens in a democracy make about their elected leaders? These matters are especially important in Kenya, where the transition to democracy has been long and hard-fought.

Read more from James Long.

On the Presidency
We do not believe that Mwai Kibaki is the legitimate president of Kenya but he is the legal president of Kenya.

On ethnicity--Hamisi's article features a slur against the Agikuyu, claiming that they do not want to compromise, that Mwai Kibaki would be disgracing himself if he compromised.

On the speedy, stealthy inaugurationThere was a real air of uncertainty surrounding the country at the time with riots and violence in the western city of Kisumu.

A combined article by Vitalis Oyudo and Stephen Wainaina. Read more here.

Much has been said about the recently concluded presidential election that Raila Odinga lost but which still gave his party sufficient constituency wins to control parliament.

There is a feeling of resignation, shock and being cheated at the electoral loss and this is fully understandable. Those of us old enough will recall the 1992 election where everyone thought they would beat the KANU candidate Daniel Arap Moi but he still came out triumphant. Opposition leaders screamed that Moi had rigged the elections and even FORD Asili's Kenneth Matiba went the extra mile to file a petition in court, one which ultimately failed on a technicality.

Read more from Kamale T here.

Updated as it happens!! Get your news here, and a chance to discuss with other Kenyans the process and status of the elections.

Read here.

It has been said that this election and the campaign period preceding it have been far more violent and turbulent than the 2002 election. Still, Kenyans have conducted themselves in a manner that is much to be admired, even if some of their leaders have showed the most poor form.

Read more from Vitalis Oyudo.

At a press conference held early this morning ODM leaders, William Ruto, Joseph Nyagah and Tony Gachoka expressed their concern on the delay of votes.

UPDATED EVERY FIVE MINUTES-- live blogging of the ECK press conference.

More updates..... .

Published here is a scroll of all the parliamentary results. It has become clear that there are anomalies in the previosuly published reports here. We hope that in going through this list readers can verify and correct to what has been announced by the ECK and the mainstream media.

The results of the election are quickly coming in and reports from around the country indicate very high turnouts. However, it still not clear to me exactly what inspired voters around the country.

High turnouts are a traditional indicator that voters are passionate, that they are not apathetic, that they are involved and want to take charge of their destiny. I want to join with people around the country in their pride about this election, especially in the results on the parliamentary seats. I want to say we are a democratic people, that we have set an example for other third world countries, that all that is left is ensuring accountability, but was there any design to yesterday's vote, or were factors like tribe, manipulation and euphoria more important than an analysis of the candidates?

Read more from Amir Ibrahim here.

The election results are still streaming in and Raila has taken what appears to be an unassailable lead though there are still those hopeful that there are another 3 or so million votes to be counted and these could turn the tables.

But that is not what I want to write about. As most readers will recall, following the 2002 elections, there was this continuous talk of how much the Agikuyu and President Kibaki owed Raila for his triumph over Uhuru Kenyatta. This was repeated so many times it was taken as the truth, and forms part of the casus belli that led to the fallout between the two politicians and their followers.

Read more from Kamale T.

The Day After: Friday, 28th December, 2007
I have a racking headache this morning. Yesterday was a tough, nay, gruelling day. Yeah, and so much so. It was Election Day; the most competitive, much anticipated issue-based election since independence. I was among the last people at the polling station having stood in the hot sun for almost half a day. Read more here.

Election Updates
Have you any news on the elections? Please share it here. It needn't be anything untoward or alarming, although news of that will be very much appreciated also. Even news on the turnout, any delays in opening and so on is welcome. Are there enough observers about? Are there long queues? Do the Commission's officials look like they will cope with the hard work? Read here as Kenyans give their election experience.

Sources, sources
This post here has links to different websites that have updated data on the election.

Parliamentary votes, winners and losers
This election has some big losers. Who are they? Read more here.

Why I did not vote
I decided to boycott this year's elections. All the candidates running for both parliament and the president's office have been promising the world to the electorate when they know very well that they will not be able deliver nor will they make an effort to do so once assuming public office. Kibaki was the only one silent about the constitutional review and it's adaptation. Read more here.

Picha za Kura
Here are snapshots from polling stations in Kenya.

You could cut the tension in Nairobi with a knife, everyone seems to have taken sides and even those who have not, are fully aware that this is a high stakes affair with a sense of doom written all over it.

The air is rife with rumours, most of them about an attempt by the government to rig the election. Other topics of fervent discussion include allegations that the government will not hand over to the ODM should it be beaten on Thursday.

Read more from Maina Gichangi.

Kenyans have never been very good at predicting election outcomes. In 1992, one Kenneth Matiba was widely expected to beat President Moi at the elections. The buzz about his campaign was like nothing the country had ever seen.

The amount of money he spent on the election was without parallel in our history. He also had the crowds, massive ones and these all over the country. Unlike the other opposition parties which were largely ethnic in their makeup, he had backers in all the provinces and was riding on a wave of euphoria that was truly gigantic. With charisma in buckets, he infected his supporters with such an enthusiasm they struck a real terror in the establishment's heart.

More here from Vitalis Oyudo on the impact of opinion polls on the Kenyan electorate.

A month before the elections, opinion polls keep showing a stubborn 3-4% of Kenyans that have refused to side with one side over the other. It is not hard to see why.

Read more from a Kenyan voter- Annette Keino.

The Catholics Bushops Conference has elected to issue in the midst of the increasing bigotry, intra-religious turf wars and tribal & religious hate-mongering, a refreshing breathe of tolerance, soberness and secularism.

Read and discuss what the Catholic Bishops of Kenya had to say here.

On 27th December 2007, Kenyans go to the polls to elect a new President. New in this case means recently elected rather than elected for the first time. Yet, according to recent opinion polls, it could very well be that the word new may refer to both definitions.

There are two front runners for the post of President. The incumbent Mwai Kibaki is running on a party named the Party of National Unity whilst the main challenger Raila Odinga is running on a party known as the Orange Democratic Movement.

Read more here.

The National Muslim Leaders Forum has released what it says is the MoU entered into with Raila Odinga. It says the intention and objective of signing the MoU was to safeguard the interests and welfare of a section of the Kenyan Muslims that has undergone atrocities over the last 44 years.

Read more from Tony Gathungu here.

This week just gone I was subjected to the horror of listening in as my countrymen described how they would put us Muslims in our place if we ever got to try and implement our secret deal with Raila Odinga.

It would be dishonest to claim I was not angry. These were after all solidly middle class students, the kind of people that should properly be immune to the hateful propaganda machinations of the political parties. It is also true that as an agnostic with a nickname that does not betray my cultural background, those making these statements did not think I would be threatened by their invection. Perhaps they even thought it natural that I would be in agreement with their scheme, that I would offer up ideas on how to deal with the Islamic threat. Now hours later, I am left asking myself why this has come to pass. Have Kenyan Christians and Muslims not lived side by side in mostly sunny forbearance for aeons? What has changed?

Read more from Amir Ibrahim here.

Now that all the major parties have released their manifestos, it is time to analyse them. At first glance they appear pretty similar with ideas like the doubling of the economy's size, maintaining a 10% growth or even better a 24 hour Nairobi City appearing in more than one document.

Read more on Kamale T's assessments.

There was once an African country that was the wealthiest in its region, it had the best-educated population and its factories produced the goods that filled the shelves in its neighbours' shops.

Then came a president who had new ideas, very passionately held, about how to make his country even wealthier. He said the country needed to develop its own style of government, one that was uniquely tuned to addressing its needs. He spent vast sums, upto 60% of the budget on mega-projects. As he had reversed progress made in revenue collection by previous governments, his new government had to inaugurate an entirely new regime at the revenue authority. At the same time, the authority's budget was cut into by the fact that there was much less in tax collections, the president having exonerated large sections of the working population from the tax burden. He nationalised companies that had previously been privatised and antagonised the financial markets with endless investigations and insinuations. Rent controls served to kill the fledgling property and mortgage markets.

Read more from Vitalis Oyudo.

A closer study of the Kenyan political scene when read in conjuction with the recent polls by the Steadman Group indicates that with proper planning, President Kibaki can be beaten at the December polls but still win his seat back.

Read more from Kamale T.

Mwingi South MP Kalonzo Musyoka was in his element last Sunday gone, buoyed along by the massive turnout to his campaign's official launch at Uhuru Park. The former long serving Kanu organizing secretary is arguably the best political propagandist the country has ever produced. He was as eloquent as always, even though little from the team he fronted, Bahari MP Joe Khamisi excepted, suggested that they meant in any way what they were pontificating.

Read here Solomon Gakungu's criticism of Kalonzo Musyoka.

Reality TV is an essential part of the zeitgeist , and no part of it more emblematic than the phenomenon of the Big Brother TV show. Question is, is that spirit transferrable? Shouldn't we watch our MPs just as closely?

The idea of regular live coverage of parliament has already been mooted, so this fantasy is not too far from fruition. But what is it all about?

Find out here.

In these series, kenyaImagine ask a list questions of young Kenyans who are throwing themselves into the politcal ring. DO they represent a new Kenya? What problems stand in their way? Do they deserveto win?

Download a questionnare here to forward onto aspiring members of parliament.

The first of these is Ole Mepukori. Read his interviews here.

There has been a trend in Kenyan politics and this most prevalent among the media and political classes to speak of the Muslim vote, a collective that needs to be courted and won over by the parties and their candidates.

Amir Ibrahim demonstrates that Kenyan Muslims are not a monolithic demographic entity. Read more here.

I consider myself a responsible and fully-paid up member of my society. I participate in the PTA at my daughter's school, and I am involved in the neighborhood council.

We do not do anything too exciting in our council; it's only putting together the funds for the refuse collection, and that for the neighborhood guards. We also put money together for the resurfacing of the road that passes through our little enclave.

It is an enclave alright, and we are its little government. We have blocked the two entrances to our road. We have put up a ten-foot wall on the one-end, with electric fencing at the top; and we have a massive gate (again with electric fencing on top) at the front-end. At the gate we have two guards, ex-policemen who are under instruction not to let anyone come uninvited into our little piece of calm and tranquility. We have long given up on the ability of the local government and the central government to deliver the services we should properly expect from our taxes.

Annette Keino demonstrates why none of the political parties nor the candidates that represent them are worthy of her vote. Read more here.

On Madaraka Day in 2002, former President Moi posited that Kenya's problems could not be solved this century. He predicted that Africa would continue to wallow in poverty, corruption, tribalism and disease forever.

Solomon Gakungu advices against listening to the former president. Read more here.

As we consider our choices at the next election, and ponder the utility of elections in promoting good governance. What also of the specific pledges that politicians are making now?

Read here as Bertil Mketu assesses the political growth or lackthereof in Kenya and watch a slide show detailing Kenyan newsmedia coverage of the previous elections.

President Mwai Kibaki trails his fierce rival Raila Odinga in Kenya's latest electioral opinion polls. Even this early in the game, the margin seems unassailable as Raila moves into a position of dominance across the regions.

George Nyangweso wonders how President Kibaki will make a case for his re-election. Read more here.

After waiting a long time, we have seen a circus of tribal chiefs supporting President Kibaki's re-election as they launched PANU, a coalition whose aim is to maintain the status quo at all costs.
By their speeches it was quite apparent that they live in morbid fear of one Raila Odinga. Ministers Chirau Mwakwere and Simeon Nyachae captured the frustration and fears of the ruling class against the indomitable ODM flag bearer.

On June 7th last year I had predicted in a local daily that a Moi/ Kibaki/ Kenyatta axis would inevitably emerge if ODM flag bearer Raila Odinga clinches the ODM ticket. In light of this, the dramatic endorsement of Mwai Kibaki by Moi and then Uhuru Kenyatta did not come as a major surprise. I have deliberately mentioned the two since they are the main pillars of this reactionary group.

Read more as Solomon Gakungu opines on the race to Kenya's presidency this December.

The one thing that came out glaring from last week's news was the fact that Mwai Kibaki will lose the General Election, even with all the advantages of incumbency and the inertia he enjoys as head of state.

Mwai Kibaki is not a bad man; he is no more corrupt than Raila Odinga. He is no more a tribalist than our first President Kenyatta ever was, and neither is he a violent man. By all accounts he is a God-fearing, kindly family man with an excellent educational background and a long career in politics. What he is not by a long shot is a leader, and for all those Kenyans who are opposed to a Raila Odinga presidency, nothing could be more disheartening.

Read Stephen Wainaina assesses the Kibaki presidency here.

In the absence of strict legal controls, political party financing in Kenya will always retain a link to serious financial crime and money-laundering.

The phrase "money laundering" gained prominence during the Watergate Scandal when President Richard Nixon's Campaign Committee moved illicit campaign donations to Mexico and then brought the funds back through a shell corporation in Miami.

Closer home, in every election yea, Kenyans experience extraordinary generosity from their politicians. The countryside comes alive with new projects and unsolicited donations towards various courses. Is this excessive benevolence always genuine? And if so who funds it?

Read more here from Capt. Collins Wanderi Munyiri.

While condemning Simeon Nyachae for the acts of savagery committed by his hoodlums against MPs Omingo Magara, and William Ruto, Kenyans should not ignore the part the victims played in the events.

Magara, the South Mugirango MP, and his Eldoret North counterpart should bear responsibility for their decision to storm Nyachae’s rally. The two MPs should have known – given the nature of political fundamentalists during campaigns – that walking, uninvited, into a gathering called by one of Gusii’s most vicious men was bound to result in violent confrontation. There is no doubt that prior to the attacks, Magara was aware that Nyachae gets extremely aroused by orgies of violence.

Read more here from Ombuya Okong'o.

Parliament voted this week to deny the KACC's quest for extra powers, limiting its authority to take on corruption cases that precede the 2003 Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

Coming so close after the leak of the Kroll Report and just prior to the beginning of the campaign season, the questions abound. Is this a cynical attempt to stand in the way of the Executive in an election year? Is it an example of MPs oppossing everything from the government for the sake of embarassing it? Or is the KACC and its boss truly a waste of taxpayers resources, undeserving of our sympathies and support? Should Ring'eera stand down?

Read more here.

In the absence of strict legal controls, political party financing in Kenya will always retain a link to serious financial crime and money-laundering.

The phrase "money laundering" gained prominence during the Watergate Scandal when President Richard Nixon's Campaign Committee moved illicit campaign donations to Mexico and then brought the funds back through a shell corporation in Miami.

Read more here. from Capt. Collins Wanderi Munyiri.

Read here Kalonzo Musyoka's tax platform for Kenya if elected president.

As Kenya approaches the next general elections, political contenders have cast away all pretensions. They are now engaged in real , of ethical inhibitions, in their attempt to lure voters to their side.

Capt. Collins Wanderi Munyiri urges Kenyans to vote on issues. Read more here.

Is it possible, that the decision by Kibaki to go for a PNU arrangement with an array of parties supporting him but remaining distinct, may lead to enhanced democracy in Kenya?


Kamale T analyses President Kibaki's strategy for the next general election. Read more here.

One way or the other, a majority of Kenyans are affected by poverty, insecurity, low quality education, inadequate health services, a lack of social welfare programs and huge disparities in income.

Growing unemployment, tribalism, massive corruption, disempowerment, escalating prices of basic commodities and a desperate hopelessness are also continuing to ravage our society.

Job Obonyo assesses two of Kenya's presidential candidates-- Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki. Read more here.

Faisal Aideed's reaction to an article in the East African Standard.

But the question is , will Kenya buy into this clever propaganda? Sadly, history tells us that our people are indeed gullible and given the particular concentration' of media ownership in the hands of pro-establishment operatives and sympathizers ,we can expect more of similarly crafted "neutral" pieces in all the dailies and their affiliated non-print outlets that will sell Kibaki's re-election through negative campaigning against his opponents.

Read more here.

Even the neutral observer must have felt that the laid-back campaign style of the Kibaki team was denying us a true contest in the election year.

While ODM went about the country winning converts in mass rallies, the forces around President Kibaki seemed destined for another performance like the 2005 referendum where they waged an incompetent campaign and doomed themselves to an easy defeat.

Read more from Amir Ibrahim here.

Read and discussed presidential candidate's Raila Odinga's speech to Kenyans in the Diaspora.

Here.

There's many ways to wage an election campaign. Whipping up the public emotion and demonizing your opponent so as to turn the public against him is one of the more commonly used, and one of the most effective. In a nutshell, this strategy involves painting one's team as angels, and the opposing side as demons bent on the destruction of the public good. The danger with this approach, which presents itself as very cost-effective, is that it places the angels in a position of great disadvantage.

Read here as Amir Ibrahim asks the ODM party to have an issues campaign versus a morality one.

In the aftermath of the Kroll Report, and of President Moi's announcement that he would back President Kibaki's re-election, many have tried to draw an equivalence between the stand of Raila Odinga, and that of President Kibaki. It is important however, that we note and take into account the difference between political rhetoric and action. Kenya does have a terrible past, but it is important that the leadership is able to seperate its passions against those crimes from the steps it will take to remedy them.

Job Obonyo reacts to the Kroll Report.

In an announcement yesterday that has been coming for months, former President Moi declared that he would be supporting the re-election bid of President Kibaki at the general elections later this year.

What do you think? Join the kenyaImagine discussion here.

In a move likely to go down like a bitter pill in Parliament, but a sweet lozenge elsewhere the government this Friday announced the appointment of professionals to manage Constituency Development Funds.

Read more here as Stephen Wanyama on spending public funds.

It was not a big headline, but it may count for more than is obvious. Former Cabinet Minister and Marakwet MP Linah Jebii Kilimo has packed her bags, left the ODM 'bash' and returned to support the government. I am not going to speculate on the exact reasons for the departure of the Marakwet legislator, who was famous not just for her courage in advocating the rights of women in her area before she came to Nairobi, but also for her resolution when she chose to quit the government and serve ODM. But it is curious that she should return now, to the very people and group she had previously made speeches against, and from whose grip she had sought to redeem her people.

More from Amir Ibrahim here.

I remember having a conversation with a lawyer friend of mine, where we were discussing whether the jury system of resolving court cases would be viable in Kenya. The jury system ,you would know, is one in which the accused is tried by his peers who, based on the facts presented in court determine his guilt or innocence and thus his fate. He laughed in my face, at my naiveté in conjuring up such a notion. This was not because mine was an unsound proposition but , he said, because I had failed to consider how deeply entrenched tribalism is in this country.

Read more from Sophie Mukwana here.

Kenya has at present 210 constituencies, which number is the maximum legal limit. The government has in recent weeks sought to increase that number of seats.

How can a balance be struck, and is the problem the government's unilateral approach or is the opposition making a fuss over nothing? The Constitution does after all demand constituency revisions every 10 years.

What do you think?

Sonia Maina on Kalonzo Musyoka's vision.

When delving as per presented in his manifesto, his vision for Kenya’s direction speaks a modern persona, a stark contrast to the coalition bargaining chip he is most often portrayed by the media. His vision appears practical, concise, noble, simple and powerful. It taps into fundamental realities, similar to Franklin Roosevelt’s 1933 inauguration speech during the great depression likewise amidst the poverty the corruption and woes acknowledged and for Kenyans to aspire to integrity.

Read more here.