Election Profile:

Flag of Kenya Source for election date

At stake in this election:

  • The office of President of Kenya

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President Mwai KIBAKI *
  • Head of Government: President Mwai KIBAKI
  • Assembly: Kenya has a unicameral National Assembly (Bunge) with 224 seats.

* In addition to receiving the largest number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to avoid a runoff;

Description of electoral system:

  • The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
  • In the National Assembly (Bunge), 210 members are elected by popular vote, 12 members are appointed by the president and 2 members are reserved ex officio.***

*** Out of the 224 members, 210 of the representatives are elected by popular vote while another 12 are appointed by the president on recommendations by political parties in Parliament. The remaining two members of the Bunge are ex-officio members. All members serve five year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

  • Mwai KIBAKI
    Party: Party of National Unity (PNU)
  • Raila ODINGA
    Party: Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
  • Stephen KALONZO Musyoka
    Party: Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-K)
  • Other candidates
    Party: N/A

Last Presidential election:

  • Last presidential election was held on December 27, 2002. KIBAKI was elected by 63% of the vote over Uhuru KENYATTA who received 30%.

Population and number of registered voters:

  • Population: 36,913,721 (July 2007 est.)
  • Registered Voters: 14,267,764

Last Updated on 02/21/2006