When a peaceful vote returned violent results

Scenes of the chaos that characterised the 2007 post-election period. Photo/FILE

December 23, 2007

Reports emerge that a large number of Administration Police officers are undergoing training at the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi to act as PNU agents in ODM zones. The government dismisses them as propaganda.

December 26, 2007

People suspected to AP officers are attacked in Migori on claims that they were out to rig the polls for PNU. Similar reports are received from Eldoret Town where a bus allegedly carrying the APs is torched.

December 27
Voting goes on peacefully in most parts of the country. Provisional results as at midnight show ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga taking a huge lead, trailed by incumbent Mwai Kibaki in second position and Kalonzo Musyoka a distant third.

December 28

Tension mounts in parts of the country after latest results show President Kibaki closing in on Mr Odinga’s lead. ODM leaders, including William Ruto, James Orengo and Henry Kosgey storm the Electoral Commission of Kenya’s main tallying centre at KICC to protest at what they term as manipulation of figures to rig out their candidate.

The leaders, now joined by Mr Odinga, convene a press conference where they parade a Mr Kirui, a parliamentary official attached to the ECK, who claims that results of some constituencies were manipulated in favour of Mr Kibaki.

Mr Orengo and PNU’s Martha Karua are picked to verify contentious results with ECK officials during an overnight exercise.

December 29

Tension is palpable in most parts of the country as the ECK delays announcing the presidential results. Chairman Kivuitu at one time says election officials in some of Mr Kibaki’s strongholds had gone missing with their vote tallies. ODM leaders hold a press conference and declare Mr Odinga the winner of the presidential elections.

Tempers flare at the KICC for the second day running as ODM leaders accuse ECK chairman Samuel Kivuitu of plotting to rig in Mr Kibaki at the expense of Mr Odinga. General Service Unit officers later storm the main counting hall and flush out everybody, including the ODM leaders, election observers and the media.

Mr Kivuitu finally declares Mr Kibaki the winner at a closed door function covered live by the state broadcaster, KBC, the only media house allowed in. President Kibaki is within minutes of the announcement sworn in to serve his second term at a low key ceremony at State House, Nairobi.

Minutes later, violent protests erupt in parts of the country as ODM supporters take to the streets to protest the “stolen” victory. Hardest hit are Eldoret, Kisumu, Kericho, Kakamega, Busia, Migori, Mumias, Homa Bay, Nakuru and Mombasa.

December 30-31

People are burnt alive at the Kiambaa church near Eldoret as the violence gets out of control.

January 2008

Violence rages on in the country even as the world community, led by the African Union, tries to intervene and end the political crisis.

February 4, 2008

The Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation team chaired by Kofi Annan spells out immediate measures to end violence as it seeks a lasting solution to the crisis in the country.

February 28

President Kibaki and Mr Odinga sign the National Accord setting up the Grand Coalition Government at Harambee House, ending the violence.