Factbox-Kenya’s 2022 presidential election contenders

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya holds a presidential election on Aug. 9 with opinion polls predicting a good race between veteran opposition chief Raila Odinga and serving Deputy President William Ruto.

Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, constitutionally barred from searching for a 3rd five-year time period, has publicly criticised his deputy and endorsed Odinga.

Kenyatta’s Kikuyu ethnic group, the nation’s most populous, has produced three of 4 presidents since independence from Britain in 1963, however doesn’t have a presidential candidate this time. Recognising the significance of ethnic voting blocs, each frontrunners have picked a Kikuyu vp.

Presidential candidates George Wajackoyah and David Mwaure Waihiga are polling in low single-digit numbers, however votes going their method may imply neither Odinga nor Ruto safe a majority, pushing the race to a second spherical.

WILLIAM RUTO

Ruto heads the Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) Alliance and served as a lawmaker and minister for agriculture earlier than turning into deputy president.

Within the 2007 election, Ruto sided with Odinga and misplaced. Round 1,200 individuals have been killed within the violence that adopted.

He was later charged with crimes in opposition to humanity on the Worldwide Felony Court docket for his alleged function within the violence, however the case collapsed. He denied any wrongdoing.

In 2013 and 2017, he teamed up with Kenyatta to defeat Odinga.

An eloquent orator, 55-year-old teetotaller Ruto has pledged to spice up spending for small farmers and personal companies, and reform nationwide medical insurance and social safety funds.

Ruto portrays himself as a former roadside hen vendor representing working-class “hustlers” in opposition to rich political “dynasties”.

RAILA ODINGA

Odinga is operating for president beneath the Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) Alliance, which incorporates Kenyatta’s Jubilee get together. Odinga is the son of the nation’s first vp, whereas Kenyatta is the son of the primary president.

A former political prisoner, Odinga says the final three elections have been stolen from him. Lethal violence adopted the disputed 2007 and 2017 votes.

Odinga has pledged to stamp out widespread graft and provides a month-to-month stipend to the unemployed, common healthcare and free training to all. He named his eldest son Fidel in a nod to his left-wing sympathies.

His political heartland is in western Kenya, whose residents have previously complained of neglect by the federal government as a result of their help for the opposition.

GEORGE WAJACKOYAH

Wajackoyah, 63, who describes himself as a lawyer, educational and former spy, is operating beneath the Roots Social gathering of Kenya banner.

He pledges to legalise cultivating marijuana for industrial and medicinal use, and export hyena testicles and snake venom to assist pay Kenya’s exterior public debt.

He additionally plans to droop components of the structure for six months and hold anybody convicted of corruption.

He has attracted some younger voters and enraged many non secular leaders.

DAVID MWAURE WAIHIGA

Waihiga, additionally a lawyer, is operating on the Agano Social gathering of Kenya ticket.

He pledges to deal with authorities graft, and publish the federal government contracts for main infrastructure tasks reminiscent of railways, ports and highways.

(Reporting by George Obulutsa; Modifying by Katharine Houreld and Kenneth Maxwell)