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Religion, along with ethnicity and economic issues, could be among the key factors influencing voting patterns in Kenya’s forthcoming 27 December national general elections, say some analysts. "Religion may be a swing factor," Ken Ouko, a lecturer at the sociology department of the University of Nairobi told Ecumenical News International. "Christian clerics have brought it to the fore. The ODM (Orange Democratic Movement) leader’s memorandum of understanding with Muslims has generated a lot of interest."
In October, Raila Odinga, the ODM candidate and considered a front runner in the presidential race, signed a pact with Kenyan Muslims that opened a heated national debate. A few days before the election, the pact continues to generate anger among some Christian leaders as well as fears of increased demands for Sharia, an Islamic code of religious law. "Some Christians are likely to vote in a reactionary manner to the memorandum," said Bernard Boyo, head of the department of biblical and religious studies at Kenya’s Daystar Christian University. "They are concerned they will lose their freedom to worship."
Still, in what observers see as a scramble for Islamic votes, President Mwai Kibaki has formed a commission to investigate Muslim complaints of discrimination, especially in anti-terror campaigns. Kibaki also offered to turn Eed-al-Adhaa, the period of celebration after the holy fasting month of Ramadan into a national holiday. Raila’s signing of the memorandum is seen as having endeared him to Muslims. "It makes Muslims feel Raila is for their agenda," said Karori Mbugua, a philosophy lecturer at the University of Nairobi.
In the election campaign, candidates have also invoked local myths and prophecies to influence voters. For example, people in Western Kenya are paying heed to an old prophecy by the late Elijah Maside, a leader of the Dini ya Musambwa, a religious sect, who said that leadership would come to western Kenya after first being held by somebody from Lake Victoria. This had influenced a coalition between the ODM’s Odinga, who is from Lake Victoria, and Musalia Mudavadi a politician from Western Kenya. "Religion has been a campaign tool all along," said Mbugua. "One of the presidential candidates is a Pentecostal pastor. That says a lot about how religion will for some people determine who they vote for."
President Mwai Kibaki is a Roman Catholic. Odinga, who is leading in opinion polls, recently said he is an Anglican. Another candidate, Kalonzo Musyoka, is an evangelical Christian. About 10 percent of Kenya’s 37 million people are Muslims, while about 78 percent are Christians.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s) and not do necessarily reflect the views of the AfricaFiles' editors and network members. They are included in our material as a reflection of a diversity of views and a variety of issues. Material written specifically for AfricaFiles may be edited for length, clarity or inaccuracies.
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