Kenya’s Trumpian Election
What all democracies should learn from it
Blame it on American exceptionalism, but when I used to read about a lesser developed country’s contested election, I thought: “This could never happen in America.” Then January 6th changed everything. Now, whenever I read about a losing candidate alleging election interference with no evidence, I think: “Look at these Trumpian claims.”
That is exactly what I thought when reading about Raila Odinga’s rejection of William Ruto’s victory in Kenya’s recent presidential election. The 77-year-old Odinga was running for president for the fifth time. He has challenged the election results in each of the past two elections, including a successful challenge in 2017 (although he lost the rerun out of protest because he thought it was still rigged).
Odinga will almost certainly try to challenge the 2022 results in a similar fashion. Pressure may once again be put on Kenya’s Supreme Court to determine the “true” election results. Much like it was in America back in 2000, and again through different (more coup-like) means on January 6, 2021.
This is yet another example of democracy’s fragility. Transitions of power are never guaranteed and must not be taken for granted. Here’s what we should take away from Kenya’s Trumpian election.
