This timeline documents key dates and events in Kenya's 2017 general election process, from campaign initiation through the handshake reconciliation in March 2018.
Pre-Election Phase
June 2017: Campaign season formally begins. Presidential candidates conduct campaign rallies, media outreach, and constituency-level mobilization. The two major coalitions (Jubilee and NASA) launch intensive campaigns emphasizing their respective platforms and attacking opposition positions.
July 27, 2017: Chris Msando, ICT director of the IEBC, is kidnapped. The abduction of the senior electoral official responsible for electronic result transmission systems triggers immediate security concerns and international attention.
July 29, 2017: Chris Msando's body is discovered in a forest near Nairobi with visible signs of torture. His death, occurring just days before the election, raises questions regarding electoral system security and the integrity of electronic result transmission procedures.
August 7, 2017: Final campaign day. Major candidates conduct last-minute campaign rallies and media appearances. Security forces increase deployment nationwide in anticipation of election day.
Election and Counting
August 8, 2017: General Election Day. Voters simultaneously conduct presidential, parliamentary, senatorial, and gubernatorial elections. Turnout reaches approximately 79% overall, with regional variation. Polling station procedures proceed largely without major incidents, though some locations experience technical difficulties with electronic systems.
August 8-11, 2017: Result tallying proceeds across the country. Electronic result transmission systems experience operational challenges, forcing some polling stations to rely on hardcopy results. IEBC receives results via electronic and physical means.
August 9, 2017: IEBC commissioners publicly dispute the tabulation process. Four commissioners issue a joint statement indicating they do not endorse the announced results and have reservations regarding the tabulation procedures.
August 11, 2017: IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati officially announces final results. Uhuru Kenyatta wins with approximately 54% of the vote (8.2 million votes) compared to Raila's approximately 45% (6.8 million votes). Results are substantially higher turnout and clearer margin than the 2013 election.
Court Challenge and Nullification
August 18, 2017: Raila Odinga and the NASA coalition file a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the August 8 election results. The petition alleges widespread irregularities, unauthorized electronic system access, and procedural violations by the IEBC.
August 24 - September 1, 2017: Supreme Court conducts hearings on the nullification petition. Proceedings are televised and extensively covered by media. Raila's legal team presents evidence of alleged irregularities. The IEBC and Jubilee coalition defend the results.
September 1, 2017: Supreme Court issues nullification decision. The 4-2 majority finds that the IEBC violated constitutional procedures and that unauthorized access to electronic systems occurred. The court orders a new election within 60 days.
Boycott and Re-Run
September 2017: NASA coalition announces it will boycott the October 26 re-run election unless the IEBC implements comprehensive institutional reforms. The boycott announcement signals that the opposition views the October election as potentially compromised and declines to participate.
October 26, 2017: General Election re-run. Turnout dramatically declines to approximately 40%, primarily due to opposition boycott in NASA stronghold regions. Uhuru Kenyatta wins with approximately 98% of votes cast, achieving overwhelming margin but in context of reduced turnout and opposition absence.
Post-Election and Handshake
January 30, 2018: Raila Odinga conducts parallel presidential inauguration ceremony, swearing in as "People's President". The ceremony represents symbolic rejection of the October re-run election's legitimacy.
March 9, 2018: Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga conduct historic public reconciliation (the "handshake"). The two leaders embrace publicly and announce joint commitment to national unity, fundamentally altering Kenya's political trajectory and ending the electoral crisis.
See Also
2017 Election 2017 Election August 8 Vote 2017 Election Supreme Court Nullification 2017 Election October Re-run 2017 Election Handshake Prelude
Sources
- Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. (2017). 2017 General Elections: Official Timeline and Results. Retrieved from https://www.iebc.or.ke/
- Supreme Court of Kenya. (2017). Petition No. 5 of 2017: Nullification Decision. Retrieved from https://www.courts.go.ke/
- International Crisis Group. (2017-2018). Kenya's 2017 Election and Political Crisis Timeline. Retrieved from https://www.crisisgroup.org/