A religious sister casts her ballot at the Karen Kenya Medical Training College polling station Aug. 9 in Nairobi, Kenya, during Kenya's general election. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
by Doreen Ajiambo
On Tuesday, Aug. 9, Kenyans cast their votes for the country's next president as well as other government officials. The two front-runners for the presidency are Raila Odinga of a coalition political party, the Azimio-One Kenya Alliance, and deputy president William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance party.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Catholic sisters nationwide have conducted peace campaigns and civic education to avert violence before, during and after the election. The hope is to avoid the unrest that plagued the country after the 2007 election, which claimed 1,300 lives and displaced 600,000 people, and the 2017 election, when more than 100 people were killed after police responded violently to protests.
Election results are expected later in the week.
Sr. Hedwig Muse of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate woke up at 5 a.m. on Aug. 9 to cast her vote at the Milimani Primary School polling station in Nairobi, Kenya. Religious sisters are among voters selecting a president, governors, senators, members of the national assembly and local country representatives. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
Voters in Kenya are selecting a president, governors, senators, members of the national assembly and local country representatives during Kenya's general election on Aug. 9. Hundreds of religious sisters across the country have turned up to participate in the exercise. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
A religious sister casts her ballot Aug. 9 at a polling station at the Milimani Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
A religious sister carries her ballot papers to cast her vote at the Milimani Primary School polling station in Nairobi, Kenya. Most of the sisters are participating in the exercise to choose their next president and other leaders across the country. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
A religious sister marks her ballot paper at the Milimani Primary School polling station Aug. 9 in Nairobi, Kenya. Religious sisters are among millions of Kenyans voting for a president, governors, senators, members of the national assembly and local country representatives. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
A religious sister casts her ballot at the Milimani Primary School polling station Aug. 9 in Nairobi, Kenya, during Kenya's general election. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
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Voters, including religious sisters, queue to vote during Kenya's Aug. 9 general election at the Milimani Primary School polling station in Nairobi. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
Voters, including religious sisters, queue to vote during Kenya's Aug. 9 general election at the Milimani Primary School polling station in Nairobi. Millions of Kenyans started lining up at their polling stations hours before the official opening time to choose their next president, pitting the longtime opposition politician Raila Odinga against the deputy president, William Ruto. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
Religious sisters queue to vote during Kenya's general election Aug. 9 at the Milimani Primary School polling station in Nairobi, Kenya. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
Religious sisters display their inked fingers after casting their ballot Aug. 9 inside a polling station at the Karen Kenya Medical Training College in Nairobi, Kenya. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
Voters queue to cast their ballots Aug. 9 at the Zawadi Primary School polling station in Nairobi, Kenya. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
A religious sister marks her paper ballot in a voting booth Aug. 9 at a polling station at the Karen Kenya Medical Training College in Nairobi, Kenya. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
Sr. Catherine Muthoki Mutuku of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters works as an elections observer at the Karen Kenya Medical Training College polling station in Nairobi, Kenya, during Kenya's Aug. 9 general election. Observers give an accurate and impartial reporting of the election, whether it meets regional, continental, or international standards for democratic elections. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
A religious sister displays her inked finger after casting her ballot Aug. 9 inside a polling station at the Milimani Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya. Voters in Kenya woke up early to vote to choose their next president between Raila Odinga, supported by President Uhuru Kenyatta, and the deputy president, William Ruto. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)
