Kenya is no stranger to highly contested elections. Several of the country’s past polls have seen high levels of conflict. The violence that broke out after the 2007 elections stands out in particular. It caused more than a thousand fatalities and led to a national crisis. This was eventually resolved through a coalition government and constitutional reform.
Patronage politics, a history of violent conflict and high-stakes elections increase the risks of poll violence, which often erupts along identity lines.
