January 1997: Moi announces plans for presidential succession, initially floating the possibility of passing power to a successor while maintaining authority through the presidency, or alternatively, seeking to remain in power. International observers and opposition figures respond with concerns about the constitutionality and democratic implications of various succession scenarios.
February to March 1997: Opposition parties begin coordinating pressure for electoral reforms through what would become the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group (IPPG) negotiations. Civil society organizations, including churches and human rights groups, join calls for reform. The government signals its intention to hold elections within the calendar year, compressing the timeline for campaign preparation.
March 1997: The Moi government formally announces that the presidential election will be held in December 1997, fulfilling constitutional requirements for elections before the end of Moi's five-year term. Opposition parties argue that the compressed timeline disadvantages them relative to the incumbent's control of state resources and media.
April to September 1997: The IPPG negotiations proceed, with opposition parties, government representatives, and civil society figures negotiating constitutional and legal amendments. Kenneth Matiba initially signals his intention to run for president, with campaigns promoting his candidacy in some regions.
August 1997: Coast violence erupts in Likoni and surrounding areas, with dozens killed and thousands displaced. The violence's causes and perpetrators remain disputed, but it creates significant political tension and allows the Moi campaign to emphasize security and stability narratives.
October 1997: The IPPG agreement is concluded with the passage of constitutional amendments addressing electoral procedures, restrictions on opposition political activities, and observer access mechanisms.
October to November 1997: Kenneth Matiba withdraws from the presidential race, declaring support for Kibaki's Democratic Party. Presidential campaigns formally open for the three main candidates: Moi (KANU), Kibaki (Democratic Party), and Raila Odinga (NDP).
November 1997: Presidential campaign intensity increases, with all major candidates undertaking nationwide campaign tours. State television provides disproportionate coverage to Moi and KANU while marginalizing opposition candidates. Independent newspapers provide more balanced coverage, but their reach is limited outside urban and educated constituencies. International observer missions begin deploying to monitor campaign conduct and polling procedures.
December 15-25, 1997: Campaign activities peak as the election date approaches. Final rallies are held across the country. Voter registration and verification of voter lists proceeds. International observers complete their deployment and begin observing polling preparations.
December 29, 1997: Polling day. Voters cast ballots for president and members of parliament. Turnout is estimated at 60-65 percent of registered voters. The Electoral Commission of Kenya begins tallying votes at polling stations, with observers monitoring the process.
December 30-31, 1997: Vote tallying continues at constituency and national levels. Early results show Moi establishing a lead with Kibaki in second place and Raila in third. International observers conduct parallel vote tabulation to verify the official count.
January 1, 1998: The Electoral Commission announces the official results: Moi wins with approximately 40 percent of the popular vote (2,445,359 votes), Kibaki comes in second with approximately 31 percent (1,896,271 votes), and Raila finishes third with approximately 12 percent (730,977 votes). Opposition parties and international observers acknowledge the results while documenting irregularities and concerns about the fairness of the process.
January 1998: Moi is sworn in for a new five-year term. KANU forms a government with a supermajority in the National Assembly. Opposition parties, significantly weakened relative to the 1992 parliament, begin positioning for the next electoral cycle.
See Also
- 1997 Election
- 1997 Election IPPG Reforms
- 1997 Election Moi Campaign
- 1997 Election Coast Violence
- 1997 Election Results
- 2002 Election timeline
Sources
- International IDEA (1998). "The 1997 General Elections in Kenya: Findings and Recommendations." International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/1997-general-elections-kenya-findings-and-recommendations
- Electoral Commission of Kenya (1998). "The 1997 General Elections in Kenya: Official Results." Nairobi: ECK. https://www.eck.or.ke/public-documents/election-results
- Kenya National Archives (1997-1998). "Electoral Commission Records and Government Records Division." https://www.kna.go.ke/collections/
- Human Rights Watch (1998). "Playing with Fire: Weapons Proliferation, Armed Bands, and Human Rights in Kenya." New York: HRW. https://www.hrw.org/reports/1998/kenya/