Uhuru Kenyatta sworn in as Kenyan president for second term amid deadly violence

Nairobi: Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in as president of Kenya on Tuesday following two disputed polls and waves of deadly protests. Here are the key developments in the divisive election drama: [caption id=“attachment_4219057” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Kenya’s new president Uhuru Kenyatta. Reuters[/caption] Tensions on voting day  Voters turn out in large numbers on 8 August after a tight race between Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, his longtime rival. Many fear a repeat of the violence that after the 2007 election left more than 1,100 people dead. Early results give Kenyatta a comfortable lead but are immediately rejected by Odinga, who claims hackers broke into the electoral commission database and manipulated the results. The official results, published on 11 August, give Kenyatta 54.27 percent to Odinga’s 44.74 percent. Violent protests erupt in Odinga strongholds. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights says 37 people are killed, most of them by police. New vote postponed After the Supreme Court releases a detailed judgment lambasting the handling of the vote, the election commission on 21 September pushes back the re-run to 26 October. Kenya’s chief prosecutor on 23 September orders an investigation into the commission. Late September the ruling Jubilee Party introduces a bill seeking to resolve “ambiguity” in the electoral law. The opposition condemns the move as an effort to render legal some of the “irregularities and illegalities” cited in the Supreme Court’s cancellation of the vote. Odinga pulls out  Protests erupt in early October as Odinga calls on his supporters to pressure the government to overhaul the election commission. At least three people are killed in the violence that follows. On 10 October, Odinga withdraws from the re-run, saying the election panel has failed to make needed reforms. He also says this does not mean his battle is over. Commissioner quits  One of Kenya’s seven election commissioners, Roselyn Akombe, announces on 18 October that she has quit and fled the country. The commission chief Wafula Chebukati also casts doubt on his organisation’s ability to hold a credible vote, accusing both major parties of interference. Odinga tells a rally of thousands of supporters the same day that there will be “no election” and calls for nationwide demonstrations on polling day. Kenyatta wins again  A fresh election is held on 26 October, with Kenyatta winning 98 percent of the vote as Odinga’s call for a boycott is held. Kenyatta hails his crushing win as a vindication of his August victory. Odinga meanwhile says Kenya is moving towards “outright dictatorship”. On 20 November, the Supreme Court dismisses two petitions to overturn the October election, upholding the result. On Tuesday, crowds pour into a Nairobi stadium for Kenyatta’s swearing-in ceremony. Opposition supporters attempt to hold a rally for the more than 50 killed in four months of upheaval but are met by volleys of tear gas and running battles with police.