Kenya Referendum 2010

Tomorrow marks an important day here in Kenya: the day Kenyans will vote in a referendum on a new national constitution.  

You might remember reading about the Kenyan election back in 2007, when a similar issue was put to a vote.   Disputed election results then led to deadly clashes through the country – clashes that only ended with a promise of another election.  That promised election is set to take place tomorrow. 

At the polls, Kenyan voters will be required to respond to the question:  "Do you approve the proposed new Constitution?”

Based on what I've read, the campaigns for the referendum involve two camps: the “Yes” camp led by the Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the “No” camp led by former President Moi and the Church.

Opinions here in Nairobi (and presumably throughout the country) are strong, and yet oddly enough no two people I’ve spoken with have offered the same definition of what a “Yes” versus “No” vote really means.  

Confusion abounds.  

Not once since we’ve been here has the newspaper clearly outlined the key differences between the two sides, either. 

In the United States, on the day before and day of any major election, we expect to see a clear outline of each side of whatever issue is at hand.    However, the front page of today’s Daily Nation (their tagline is, of course, The Truth), only reads “It’s all Systems Go For the Referendum.”  

Subsequent articles brag about the 63,000 police officers will be deployed tomorrow to guard election materials and voters, while others clearly outline what each voter must bring to the polls in order to cast a vote.    Nowhere could I find a clear explanation of what a “yes” or “no” vote would mean.

I’ve done a bit of research, and from what I understand, if a “yes” vote carries the day, it will mean an entirely new constitution for Kenya.   Much of the proposed constitution draft is agreeable to the masses – it decentralizes power, and offers fairer laws to land owners.   But two major pieces of the proposed draft appear to be contentious: one provides a loophole that could allow for legal abortions, and another retains a Kadhi court system in Kenya.     The “No” camp is vehemently opposed to both pieces.

Opinion articles claim that the Obama Administration is backing the “Yes” camp, and that the President and Prime Ministers are only in favor of the new constitution so they can leave a legacy.     Yet opinion polls show that nearly 60% of voters intend to vote “yes.”   Now, many claim that such opinion polls are corrupt, rigged, or just plain lies.   I’ve no idea what is true,  but the tension around here is palpable.  

Tomorrow has been declared a national holiday, and most businesses (including all supermarkets) even shut down early today.   People have been encouraged to stock up on food, water, and cell phone credit just in case any problems arise as a result of the election.    We took the advice.   

We now have more water, food, and Internet airtime than we could possibly want. 

Advertisements encouraging a peaceful election line the streets and fill radio airtime.   Our fingers our crossed that things will go smoothly.    We’ll stay safe inside at home behind locked gates and doors, but I’m looking forward to seeing how things unfold.