If no candidate wins greater than 50% of the vote, the election will cross right into a run-off for the primary time in Kenyan historical past.

Who are the principle applicants?

Odinga is a part of Kenya’s political dynasty; his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was once the primary vp of unbiased Kenya.

He is collaborating within the ballot for the 5th and ultimate time, he says after failing at his 4 earlier makes an attempt.

Odinga has won the backing of former rival President Kenyatta, who overpassed his deputy Ruto for the highest activity.

This could be Odinga’s 12 months, says political reporter and analyst Moses Odhiambo.

“There’s a sense that whichever aspect the federal government turns out to lean on, wins. If you borrow from opinion polls, then Raila has a bonus,” Odhiambo informed CNN.

Odinga’s primary opponent, Ruto, describes himself because the “Hustler-in-Chief,” bringing up his humble beginnings as a rooster dealer who fought his approach to one in every of Kenya’s easiest political places of work.

Ruto, a former trainer who holds a doctorate in Plant Ecology from the University of Nairobi, has followed a populist “man-of-the-people” means, designed to seize Kenya’s greatest vote casting bloc — the formative years.

And he seems to be succeeding, veteran political analyst Herman Manyora informed CNN: “Ruto has excited the youths … nearly in a euphoric sense. That would possibly lend a hand to cause them to prove and vote.”

“There is a global of distinction between me and my competitor. I’ve a plan, he does not,” Ruto says of Odinga.

Although the election would deliver a couple of exchange of management, Ruto and Odinga’s association with the existing govt does now not essentially supply a brand new political phenomenon, argues analyst Odhiambo.

“Among the entrance runners, individuals are willing to stability between what’s perceived as continuity and freshness inside a continuity,” Odhiambo mentioned.

“Ruto is the deputy president and a part of the present govt. There’s a belief that Odinga may well be an extension of the present president on account of the give a boost to the president has given him.”

What are the problems?

Among the important thing urgent problems for the voters is myriad financial issues starting from rising debt to prime meals and gasoline costs and mass formative years unemployment.

Analyst Manyora says many Kenyans, particularly younger humans, are disenchanted with the federal government and would possibly boycott the elections.

“There are issues that would possibly have an effect on the turnout. One is the disillusionment within the nation with the prime value of residing, the helplessness and hopelessness a number of the formative years, unemployment, poverty ranges, and the folk now not seeing the rest that the politicians are doing for them,” the analyst mentioned.

He added that Kenya’s issues will have to ordinarily spur his countrymen to vote for the precise applicants regardless of tribe, however they are not “indignant sufficient.”

“One would be expecting that on account of those issues Kenyans will prove in huge numbers on the polls to precise their anger on the prime value of residing through vote casting out the ones accountable … I don’t believe Kenyans are at some extent the place they’re indignant sufficient to translate the anger into political motion,” Manyora informed CNN.

The position of ethnicity

“The drawback on this nation is that tribal issues supersede the entirety else … Most of the votes forged can be in accordance with tribe; only a few votes will come from essential citizens,” analyst Manyora mentioned.

Ruto is from the Kalenjin tribe, and Odinga is from the Luo ethnic crew.

Both males traversed the rustic earlier than wrapping up campaigns on the weekend and sought give a boost to from the ones outdoor their strongholds.

Both applicants additionally selected their operating friends from the Kikuyu — one in every of Kenya’s greatest vote casting blocs — often referred to as the Mount Kenya area.

Ruto is operating along first-term MP Rigathi Gachagua whilst Odinga is at the poll with former justice minister and one-time presidential aspirant Martha Karua.

Karua will transform Kenya’s first feminine deputy president If elected. Analyst Odhiambo says Odinga’s selection of operating mate has excited ladies in Kenya.

“There is a rising wave of give a boost to round ladies management which has been sped up through Odinga’s selection of Martha as his operating mate,” he mentioned.

Only the Kikuyu and Kalenjin tribes have produced the rustic’s presidents and that is the primary election the place not one of the main applicants is a Kikuyu.

No candidate from the Luo tribe has gained a presidential election.