The Anatomy of Kenya’s 2022 Election

This research paper analyzes the context of Kenya's 2022 general election, detailing the primary candidates, the economic pressures facing the country, and the historical challenges of its electoral processes.

• The 2022 election features a contest between Raila Odinga, leader of the Orange Democratic Movement and the Azimio La Umoja coalition (with Martha Karua as the first potential female vice president), and William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance. Other candidates include George Wajackoyah and David Mwaure Waihiga.
• Kenya is facing severe economic instability driven by global factors, including the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which have caused food and fuel prices to spike. Specifically, cooking-oil prices increased by 47% year on year, while kerosene, diesel, and petrol rose by 21.3%, 21.5%, and 18.7% respectively. Additionally, four years of poor rainfall have left approximately 3.5 million Kenyans requiring food aid.
• The electoral process is marked by a history of instability, including the 2007 election violence that killed up to 1,500 people and the 2017 election where the result was nullified due to irregularities. Despite these issues, the 2022 election shows signs of progress through an increase in female candidates and the expectation of a peaceful transition of power as President Uhuru Kenyatta retires due to term limits.
• The incoming administration will face critical challenges termed the 'three Ds': democracy, debt, and demography. The president must address systemic, elite-driven corruption and provide economic relief without increasing national debt or inflation.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2022). The Anatomy of Kenya’s 2022 Election. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-anatomy-of-kenyas-2022-election/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The Anatomy of Kenya’s 2022 Election. 2022. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-anatomy-of-kenyas-2022-election/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The Anatomy of Kenya’s 2022 Election |date=8 August 2022 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-anatomy-of-kenyas-2022-election/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2022anatomy, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The Anatomy of Kenya’s 2022 Election}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-anatomy-of-kenyas-2022-election/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }