Transition to subnational democracy: Kenya’s 2017 presidential and gubernatorial elections

Abstract

ABSTRACT Perceptions of the legitimacy of the 2017 subnational elections in Kenya have been bound-up with perceptions of the presidential race, which was nullified by the Supreme Court, casting doubt on the results of subnational elections held on the same day. I conduct a nationally representative survey on the way citizens voted on election day, akin to an exit-poll of Kenya's 2017 elections, and find that the survey responses match with the electoral commission's announcement of results. I additionally overview all court cases disputing the 2017 gubernatorial results and again find no reason to reject the electoral commission's pronouncement of results. Based on the evidence provided I argue that the Supreme Court nullification of the presidential vote does not cast doubt on the accuracy of the gubernatorial vote. The findings point to a strong and robust democratization underway at the subnational level in Kenya.