Kenya's Struggle for Stability: A Visual Anthology

Kenya heads to the polls Aug. 8, with President Uhuru Kenyatta facing off against Raila Odinga for the top spot. The aftermath of the 2007 presidential election was marred by violence, and while similar levels of bloodshed are not expected this year, there are still concerns about widespread agitation. If Odinga and his National Super Alliance coalition lose, they are likely to accuse the ruling Jubilee Party of rigging the election, which could spark unrest. Kenya's politics are still driven by ethnic affiliations. To make matters worse, the country's rural and semi-urban populations are flush with disenfranchised youths who have easy access to weapons. Kenyan authorities are already preparing to deal with potential fallout from the elections and other East African nations have encouraged Kenyatta and Odinga to tone down their inflammatory rhetoric. Ahead of the vote, we take a pictorial look at Kenya....