Kenya's 2022 election in pictures
Kenyans are lining up to vote for their new president. According to pollsters, it's a two-horse race between Deputy President William Ruto and his main challenger Raila Odinga — a long-serving opposition leader.
Long queues
Voters queue before casting their ballots during the general election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the Kibera slums of Nairobi.
The first step to vote
At the polling station, the voter's identity is checked biometrically using an electronic system that scans their fingerprint. Here, an election official verifies a voter's information on the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS).
Exercising constitutional right
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and presidential contenders urged voters to come out and exercise their democratic and constitutional right to choose their next leaders.
Casting six ballots
A group of voters queues while waiting to vote in front of ballot boxes. Each voter receives six ballot papers, each with a different color, for the six different elections—president, governors, senators (upper and lower houses) women representatives, and ward representatives. Before they leave, indelible ink is applied to the voter's finger to ensure they cannot vote again.
46,229 polling stations
Kenya has registered about 22.1 million voters out of around 50 million Kenyans. Nearly 40% of the voters are aged between 18 and 34, a drop since the last poll. A total of 46,229 polling stations will be open.
150,000 police officers deployed
About 150,000 officers have been deployed to ensure the safety of the polls, police chief Hilary Mutyambai said. Polling day has been declared a public holiday, schools have been ordered closed until Wednesday, and supermarkets have urged people to stock up.
Little participation from the youth
Electoral commission figures show that many young people have not registered to vote. Many say they are frustrated by widening inequality and an entrenched political system overseen by the same old elite.
A big event
Street performers entertained residents of Kibera slum as they awaited the arrival of presidential candidate Raila Odinga at the Kibera Primary School to cast his vote in Nairobi. More than 30% of registered voters have cast their ballot.
Kenyans also vote in Germany
Kenyan Ambassador to Germany, Thomas Boniface Amolo has also cast his vote in Kenyan Embassy in Berlin, together with other Kenyans in the disapora.
International observation
The Kenyan election is under international obersvation: Former president of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete, who is the head of East African Community (EAC) election observation mission, visited to Old Kibera polling station in Nairobi.