Presidential elections in Kenya: Praying for peace

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Out and about on behalf of peace: Hellen Kariithi and Collins Baraza walk through their neighborhood in Eldoret in western Kenya.

They talk to neighbors and ask if they feel safe.

Because it's Monday and the next day there are elections in Kenya.

Collins Baraza, peace activist:

»I myself am prepared.

Whatever the outcome, I'm ready to go to safety."

The reason: These pictures from the turn of the year 2007/2008 have burned into my memory.

At that time, after the elections in Kenya, there were violent clashes between different ethnic groups across the country, and more than 1,000 people died.

Dozens of people were burned alive in a church in Eldoret.

Today's peace activists, Kariithi and Baraza, were also targeted at the time and lost friends and relatives.

Hellen Kariithi, peace activist:

»It was bad.

Some of the victims are still suffering from their injuries to this day.

Some have been restricted ever since – some physically, some mentally.

If you talk to the people who were affected in 2007, you can feel their fear of the elections this year.«

Eldoret is the stronghold of William Ruto, Vice President of Kenya and one of the most promising candidates in the presidential election.

The government has classified the region as a possible hotspot for violence and brought hundreds of security forces into the city.

During their patrols through the city, the peace activists actually found leaflets.

It says Vote for Ruto or it will be worse than 2007.

Hellen Kariithi, peace activist:

At the other end of the city, the election documents are now being checked and sorted.

Heavily armed police officers also secure the area here.

The Kenyan electoral authority IEBC has to deliver this time – after the last election five years ago had to be repeated due to serious errors.

Mildred Wachiye, Kenyan electoral authority IEBC:

»We are under a lot of pressure because we have to determine the election results.

We have to be very careful that we have the right ballot papers in the right quantity.

Everyone is tense and waiting for credible results.«

Will they manage to organize a smooth election this time?

The trouble is already starting outside the door of the voting center.

A man is desperately looking for his name on the posted list of voters.

Chrichir Kipsang, voter:

»No, my name is not here.«

In fact, there will be some troubles the next day, not only here in Eldoret.

In the evening we meet the youth activist Collins Kemboi.

He hangs out in numerous WhatsApp and Facebook groups, looking for conspiracy theories and hate postings.

He quickly finds what he is looking for: a politician spreads the rumor that forged election documents are in circulation.

Collins Kemboi, Peace Activist:

“It's very sensitive at this point.

This leads people to believe that the election has already been rigged, that fake and stolen ballots are already circulating.

And that makes people insecure and nervous.«

Kemboi counters, as always.

He calls on WhatsApp not to post unsubstantiated claims.

But the next few hours will show that the heated atmosphere will occasionally lead to violence.

It is now Tuesday morning, election day.

The polling stations open at six o'clock - and candidate William Ruto is the first to cast his vote here in a village in the outskirts of Eldoret, accompanied by a huge media frenzy.

He prays for peace.

William Ruto, Presidential Candidate:

»We pray for peace throughout Kenya.

We pray for your grace and we are thankful for this day.

With these few words, in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, amen.

Vote in peace!«

But peace does not last everywhere.

Kimani Wanjohi, a candidate for the district parliament, shows us his car.

Armed opponents attacked him, he says.

Kimani Wanjohi, politician:

»We barely survived.

Everyone watched him get away.

I was very afraid.

In politics you always have to be prepared for anything.

Here you have to have a lot of courage to swim against the tide.«

Such violent clashes are not uncommon in Kenya.

But fortunately they remain the rare exception this Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the queues in front of the polling stations in Eldoret are getting longer and there are technical problems.

Inside the polling station, the biometric devices that are normally used to read voters' fingerprints are on strike.

But people are patient.

They hope that the new president will finally tackle the country's pressing problems.

'It's hard to get a meal on the table these days.

Everything has become more expensive.

The cost of living is high.«

»There are many problems: business is not going well, there is no work.

We old people see that the situation is not good.«

Collins Baraza, the peace activist, is out and about again today – as an election observer.

He wants to make sure everything is going right.

So far he is happy.

Collins Baraza, peace activist and election observer:

»I look at several polling stations.

So far there haven't been any problems.

You can see it here: people vote and go home.«

Then, at 5 p.m. sharp, the time has come:

"The polling station is closed."

The votes are counted under the eyes of numerous election observers until late at night.

Now the thrill begins as everyone eagerly awaits the final results from across the country.

One thing is already certain on this evening: the voter turnout is lower than ever before.

But even late on Wednesday evening there is still no winner.

Here in the city center of Eldoret the convinced Ruto fans meet.

Your candidate is just ahead in the count.

»My heart skips a beat when I see how close the race is.

I'm worried, we had already prepared for a victory celebration, even organized tents.

But now we have to wait and see.«

Countless false information is now circulating on social media, candidates are already being declared winners, although the count is still being taken.

Youth activist Collins Kemboi is very concerned.

Collins Kemboi, youth activist:

“This premature celebration can trigger spontaneous violence on the other side.

Not only can people attack each other, but they can also just get dissatisfied.«

It is now Thursday evening and the complicated counting process is still going on.

The tension is growing – the race is extremely close.

Will her favorite Ruto win?

“We want power too, you know?

If we just wait here, if we don't take the power, nothing will happen."

"If the results aren't what we expect, then we'll sound the alarm."

“The tension is high, I'll admit that.

But we pray for peace.«

The official results are finally expected for the weekend.

The peace activists hope that their work was successful and that things will remain quiet in Eldoret afterwards.