The Africa Report — July-August 2017

O

nabrightmorninginJune,

Nakuru’smatatustand is

teeming with dozens of

waiting minibuses and

hawkers selling phone

credit,socksandnewspapers.Overhead,

billboardsareplasteredwiththefacesof

local politicians soliciting votes in the

general election on 8 August. This is the

hub of the Rift Valley, a vast region that

stretches from the country’s southern

borderwithTanzaniauptoEthiopiainthe

north,and ishome to 10millionpeople.

The Rift Valley’s mishmash of ethnic

groups will play a decisive role in the

country’s political future. The stakes in

theelectionarehigh,andinnearlyevery

vote since a multiparty democracy was

established in 1992 the Rift Valley has

seen vote-rigging and violence.

The race for State House is tightening

between the governing Jubilee Alliance

and the opposition’s National Super

Alliance (Nasa) coalition. An election

that had been seen as an easy win for

PresidentUhuruKenyattaandhisdeputy

William Ruto is now too close to call.

This time around, there is no trial

at the International Criminal Court

(ICC), whichKenyatta and Ruto, known

Kenya The fight

Kenya’s President

Kenyatta is pulling out

all the stops to beat

opposition leader Raila

Odinga in the 8 August

election. Fears are

mounting that violence

could erupt, especially

around local contests

ByMark Anderson

andMorris Kirugain Nairobi,

Nyeri, Nakuru, Eldoret,

Kakamega and Mombasa

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