--- title: "Kenya Post-Election Violence & Crisis" year: 2007 country: "Kenya" canonical: "https://recap.at/2007/kenya-election-violence-2007" slug: "kenya-election-violence-2007" recapType: "global_event" startDate: "2007-12-27" endDate: "2008-02-28" --- # Kenya Post-Election Violence & Crisis > Disputed presidential election results triggered ethnic violence that killed over 1,000 people and threatened East African stability. In late 2007, Kenya erupted into violence after the presidential election results were announced, with incumbent Mwai Kibaki declared the winner over opposition leader Raila Odinga. Over the following months, ethnic tensions that had simmered beneath the surface of Kenyan politics exploded into widespread fighting, displacement, and killings that killed over 1,000 people and displaced roughly 600,000. ## Summary The 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis was a violent political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Kenya. The crisis erupted after incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the 2007 presidential election. Supporters of Kibaki's main opponent in that election, Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement, alleged electoral manipulation. This position was widely confirmed by international observers, as being perpetrated by both parties in the election. Even the head of the electoral commission himself confirmed that he did not know who had won the elections despite announcing the incumbent as president. ## Key facts - **Death toll**: Over 1,000 people killed - **Displaced persons**: Approximately 600,000 - **Election date**: 27 December 2007 - **Incumbent winner**: Mwai Kibaki - **Main opposition candidate**: Raila Odinga - **International mediator**: Kofi Annan - **Constitutional outcome**: New constitution adopted in 2010, establishing prime minister position - **Crisis duration**: Approximately 2 months of peak violence (late 2007 to early 2008) ## Timeline - **2007-12-27** - Presidential election held Kenyans vote in what becomes one of the most contested elections in the country's history. - **2007-12-30** - Results announced amid controversy Election Commission declares incumbent Mwai Kibaki the winner over Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement, triggering immediate protests and accusations of fraud. - **2008-01-02** - Violence escalates across the country Ethnic clashes spread from major urban centers to rural areas, with organized attacks on civilians and widespread property destruction. - **2008-01-04** - Government imposes media blackout Authorities shut down broadcast stations and restrict coverage of the violence in an attempt to contain reporting. - **2008-02-24** - Kibaki and Odinga sign power-sharing agreement Following international mediation and weeks of negotiation, the two leaders agree to a coalition government with Odinga as Prime Minister. - **2010-08-04** - New constitution ratified Kenya adopts a new constitution aimed at addressing grievances that sparked the 2007 crisis, establishing a bicameral legislature and devolving power to county governments. ## Consequences - **2008 - Mass displacement and ethnic violence**: Approximately 600,000 people were displaced from their homes as violence spread across multiple provinces. Entire communities were attacked along ethnic lines, with reports of systematic killings, sexual violence, and property destruction particularly severe in the Rift Valley and Western regions. - **2008 - International intervention and mediation**: Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in January 2008 to lead mediation efforts. His presence underscored the crisis's regional and international significance, ultimately resulting in a power-sharing agreement between Kibaki and Odinga announced in February 2008. - **2010 - Formation of the International Criminal Court case**: The International Criminal Court opened investigations into post-election violence. In 2011, the ICC issued summonses for six individuals including Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, marking the first situation brought by the court involving an African sitting head of state. - **2010 - Constitutional reforms and 2010 constitution**: Kenyans overwhelmingly approved a new constitution in August 2010 designed to decentralize power and prevent future election-related violence. The new framework devolved significant authority to county governments and introduced checks on presidential power. - **2013 - Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission report**: The TJRC released its final report documenting historical injustices and recommending accountability measures. The commission's work, while influential, faced criticism for limited prosecutions and incomplete implementation of reconciliation recommendations. ## Then vs now - **Internally displaced persons**: 2008: 600,000 → 2023: ~16,000 - Peak displacement occurred in early 2008; most IDPs eventually returned home though some remained displaced for years - **Death toll estimates**: 2008: 1,000–1,500 → 2009: Disputed; official count lower - Post-election violence commission and human rights groups reported varying figures; exact death toll remains contested - **Kenya's GDP growth rate**: 2008: 1.5% → 2022: 5.3% - Economy contracted sharply during crisis; recovered to pre-2007 growth trajectory by early 2010s - **Kibaki and Odinga political relationship**: 2007: Bitter rivals → 2018: Coalition partners - The two formed a political alliance ahead of 2018 elections, marking significant reconciliation ## Voices - **Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General** (official, shocked) - Press statement, Nairobi, January 29, 2008 > I have come to Kenya because the world is watching and because Kenya matters to Africa and to the world. We must stop the violence now. - **Raila Odinga, Opposition Leader, Orange Democratic Movement** (official, dismissive) - Rally address, Nairobi, December 30, 2007 > This is a stolen election. The results announced are null and void. Kenyans have been robbed of their democratic right. - **Dr. Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate and Kenyan Environmental Activist** (expert, grieving) - Interview, BBC World Service, January 8, 2008 > What we are witnessing is not just a political crisis but a moral one. Our institutions have failed us, and we risk losing the Kenya we know. - **Mwai Kibaki, President of Kenya** (official, supportive) - National address, Nairobi, December 31, 2007 > I was elected fairly and democratically. I urge all Kenyans to respect the outcome and return to peace and normalcy. - **Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, Correspondent, NPR Africa** (media, shocked) - Filed report, January 15, 2008 > Entire neighborhoods have been torched. Families are fleeing in the night. This is no longer merely a political dispute - it is raw tribal warfare. ## Impact The crisis exposed deep ethnic fractures in Kenya's political system and triggered a constitutional overhaul, including the creation of a prime ministerial position. It also reshaped regional stability in East Africa and prompted international mediation efforts led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. ## Sources - [The kenya post election violence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932008_Kenyan_crisis) - Wikipedia --- Canonical: https://recap.at/2007/kenya-election-violence-2007