1988 Early: Moi government announces the mlolongo (queue voting) system for the 1988 election. The decision generates controversy and criticism from churches, civil society, and international observers.
September 1988: KANU primary elections begin using the mlolongo system. Public queuing behind candidates becomes the voting method. Rigging and queue manipulation become visible as the election process unfolds.
October 1988: KANU primary elections continue across Kenya. Public outrage at visible rigging begins to build. Churches and civil society organizations criticize the process. International observers document manipulation.
November 1988: Riots occur in some constituencies in protest against rigging. The government mobilizes police and military to suppress dissent.
December 22, 1988: Parliament is dissolved. General election is scheduled for December 29.
December 29, 1988: General election is held. Mlolongo voting continues for the general election. Results reflect government management of outcomes rather than voter preferences.
1989: Constitutional and legal challenges to mlolongo are filed. Parliament is sworn in. The 1988 election remains controversial as civil society organizations continue to protest.
1989-1990: Organizations begin demanding multiparty democracy. The outrage from 1988 persists and grows. Preparation begins for the democracy movement.
July 7, 1990: Saba Saba riot occurs, directly traced to 1988 election outrage. The 1988 election's legacy of delegitimization becomes undeniable.
See Also
Sources
- Widner, Jennifer. The Rise of a Party-State in Kenya. University of California Press, 1992.
- Hornsby, Charles. Kenya: A History Since Independence. I.B. Tauris, 2012.
- Gitonga, Ezra. "Moi's Kenya: Social Engineering in a Kleptocratic State." In Rogue States and State Sponsors of Terrorism. Edited by Robert Rotberg, 2007.