The jubilee coalition leading lights Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto have urged their supporters across the country to come out in large numbers on March 4th and ensure that the alliance wins in the first round.
Uhuru and Ruto were in Kajiado county a region percieved to be a TNA stronghold and with three hundred and four thousand, five hundred and seventeen votes up for grabs in an area that relies on tourism and agriculture, they promised to focus on the two sectors issuing soft loans in its strategy to create more job opportunities for women and youth. Patrick Amimo reports
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In the lead-up to Kenya’s 2013 general elections, the Jubilee Alliance, led by Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, expressed confidence in securing a first-round victory. Their optimism was rooted in strong support from the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities, bolstered by a high voter turnout in their strongholds.
In contrast, Raila Odinga of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) also aimed for a first-round win, emphasizing the need for free and fair elections to avoid the violence that marred the 2007 polls.
On March 9, 2013, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Uhuru Kenyatta the winner with 50.07% of the vote, narrowly surpassing the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff.
His closest rival, Raila Odinga, received 43.7% of the vote. The voter turnout was reported at 85.91%, with Kenyatta winning 33 out of 47 counties, while Odinga secured 30 counties plus the diaspora vote.
Despite Odinga’s challenge to the results in the Supreme Court, the court upheld Kenyatta’s victory, affirming the legitimacy of the election process.
The Jubilee Alliance’s success was attributed to strategic alliances and strong grassroots support, particularly in the Rift Valley and Central Kenya regions. However, the election was not without controversy.
Allegations of vote-rigging and concerns about the credibility of the results were raised, leading to protests and political tensions. Nonetheless, the 2013 election marked a significant moment in Kenya’s political history, demonstrating the country’s capacity to conduct a peaceful and democratic transfer of power.
