Kenyan Election Night Special: Will the elections lead to change?
Read the op-ed: 9/8: Is Change Coming? –
Read the op-ed: 9/8: Is Change Coming? –
Kenyans go to the polls on August 9 to elect a new set of leaders, from the president all the way down to county assembly members. The presidential race is a neck-and-neck contest between Raila Odinga and William Ruto. Despite the closeness of the race and the personal rivalry between the main players, however, many Kenyans are questioning whether the election will actually change anything, regardless of who ultimately wins. A recent high profile spat, involving the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, has also raised public concern about election rigging. All of these elements have led to worries that election turnout will be low, especially among youth voters.
This Election Night Special Broadcast will take place live from the capital Nairobi – a first for the Resistance Bureau – and will bring together a high-powered panel of intellectuals, journalists, and activists to seek answers to some critical questions. Will the election outcome impact the major challenges facing Kenya today, from corruption and debt to inequality and access to basic resources? Does an election in which the focus has largely been on economic issues, rather than ethnicity, represent an important political turning point? And what will be the impact be on Kenya’s democracy and political stability moving forward?
Join us on August 9 at 7PM local time to find out!
Meet our speakers
Wanjiru Nguhí
Wanjiru Nguhí is a project manager for Fumbua, a collaboration of Kenyan media organizations that aims to cut through misinformation to keep public debate honest. A trained lawyer as well as the creator and host of the Mine is a Comment podcast, she is a thought leader who uses her many platforms to encourage African women to stand up, be heard and challenge misconceptions about leadership and political power.
Patrick Gathara
Patrick Gathara is one of Africa’s best known satirists and political commentators. Equally known for his brilliant artwork as for his insightful analysis and social media commentary, he was instrumental in the creation of the alternative news site, The Elephant, and to promoting freedom of expression in East Africa. He has also contributed analysis on international affairs to highly respected publications around the world, including the Washington Post and Al Jazeera.
Willy Mutunga
Dr. Willy Mutunga is a veteran reform activist who played an important role in Kenya’s democratization and constitution-making processes during the 1990s. He is best known for his time as Kenya’s Chief Justice (2011-2016), serving as the first head of the country's Supreme Court established in 2010. Today, he is a public intellectual, a highly respected activist, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy to the Maldives.
Discussion
Lynne Muthoni Wanyeki
Lynne Muthoni Wanyeki is a Kenyan political scientist, human rights activist, journalist, and the current director of Open Society Foundation's Africa Regional Office. Prior to this, she was a regional director for Amnesty International and executive director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission. Lynne is a respected writer and a sharp analyst who was awarded a PhD in 2018 by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) for her thesis on 'African solutions for African problems.'
Moderation
Mantate Mlotshwa
Mantate Mlotshwa is a passionate advocate for the meaningful contribution of women and youth to democracy and governance processes. The Founder of the creative brand U Motle, she has earned a reputation for speaking her mind and promoting positive messages of liberation and emancipation in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Nic Cheeseman
Nic Cheeseman is the Professor of Democracy and the Director of the Centre for Elections Democracy Accountability and Representation (CEDAR) at the University of Birmingham. As well as the author of Democracy in Africa and How to Rig an Election, he is the editor of Democracy in Africa, a columnist for Africa Today and the Mail&Guardian, a contributing editor to The Continent, and an election junkie.