Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

When Kenyans went to the polls last year on the 27th of December, 2008, there was a lot of hope, enthusiasm and excitement. Since realizing the real power of the ballot in the 2002 General elections, Kenyans were keen to see their vote count once more. Kenyans had realized that the vote can free a people and once more they were voting for that freedom; Freedom to choose who will lead them in the next five years. It has been proven in Kenya and other countries time and again, from one election to another that the “ballot” is the ultimate expression of “people power.” The power of the ballot is the most peaceful and most powerful expression of a people in a democracy and overtime it strengthens a country’s democratic pillars. For the first time in the Kenyan history the largest ‘tribe’ to vote was going to be the youth, whose population is 72% of the Kenyan population and were equally the largest registered voters.