Kenya's peaceful election

Constitutional changes and balance of power contribute to political maturity and progress in presidential vote

Despite growing uncertainties involving a petition filed by Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga asking the Supreme Court to void the presidential election a week after Kenya's electoral commission declared Uhuru Kenyatta the winner of the March 4 vote, the peaceful conclusion of the presidential election marks a heartening and praiseworthy political event in the east African nation.

Before the election, the international community had been highly concerned about the possibility of violence breaking out after the elections. The result of the 2007 presidential election sparked six weeks of violence and tribal bloodshed in Kenya, more than 1,200 people died and hundreds of thousands more were left homeless. After intensive mediations from the international community, including former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, and the efforts of various social circles in Kenya, its two major political parties finally reached a compromise and established a coalition government.