Electoral Violence Deaths in 2022: A Data-Driven Memorial

Kenya's 2022 election was called peaceful. But at least 38 people died in election-related violence between April and October 2022. Each death is a data point. Each data point was a person.

The Numbers Behind the Headlines

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) documented 38 election-related deaths during the 2022 electoral cycle, covering the period from party primaries in April through post-election disputes in October. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) recorded a slightly different figure of 41 deaths, reflecting differences in methodology and the difficulty of attributing deaths to electoral causes.

By comparison, the 2017 election cycle saw at least 92 deaths (KNCHR), and the 2007/2008 post-election violence killed approximately 1,333 people and displaced over 600,000 (Waki Commission). Against this grim benchmark, 2022 was indeed less violent, but "less violent" is not "peaceful."

When Violence Happened

The 38 deaths were not evenly distributed across the electoral timeline:

• Party primaries (April 2022): 14 deaths. The highest concentration of violence occurred during the chaotic party nomination exercises. Clashes between rival supporters during UDA primaries in Laikipia, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu accounted for 7 deaths. ODM primaries in Mombasa, Migori, and Kisumu produced 5 deaths. Two deaths were linked to smaller party nominations.
• Campaign period (May-August 2022): 11 deaths. These included targeted attacks on candidates, violence at rallies, and clashes between rival campaign teams. Three campaign workers were killed in separate incidents in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Bungoma counties.
• Election day (9 August 2022): 3 deaths. Remarkably low given the scale of the operation. Two deaths occurred in scuffles at polling stations in Kisumu and Kakamega. One person was killed in a stampede at a polling station in Nairobi's Mathare area.
• Post-election period (August-October 2022): 10 deaths. These included clashes during tallying at constituency centres, violence in response to results announcements, and attacks linked to election petition disputes.

Where Violence Concentrated

The geographic distribution of electoral violence deaths in 2022 was concentrated in specific counties:

• Nairobi: 7 deaths, primarily in informal settlements (Kibera, Mathare, Mukuru) where political tensions intersected with socioeconomic grievances.
• Kisumu: 5 deaths, mostly during the post-election period when results showed strong Odinga support but a national Ruto victory.
• Nakuru: 4 deaths, linked to the cosmopolitan county's diverse political allegiances and tensions from the 2007/2008 violence that never fully healed.
• Mombasa: 4 deaths, occurring during primaries and the campaign period.
• Uasin Gishu: 3 deaths, all during party primaries.
• Other counties: The remaining 15 deaths were spread across 9 counties, with Laikipia (3), Bungoma (2), Kakamega (2), and others recording 1-2 deaths each.

Who Were the Victims

The demographic profile of the 38 victims tells its own story:

• Gender: 33 were male (86.8%), 5 were female (13.2%). Electoral violence disproportionately affects young men who are recruited as foot soldiers in political conflicts.
• Age: The median age of victims was 27 years. The youngest was a 19-year-old university student in Kisumu, killed during a post-election protest. The oldest was a 62-year-old in Nakuru, killed during a dispute over party primary results.
• Occupation: The majority of identified victims (where occupation was recorded) were informal sector workers: boda-boda riders, small traders, and casual labourers. Only 3 victims were identified as political campaign workers or candidates.
• Cause of death: 18 deaths were caused by gunshot wounds (primarily from police action during protests), 11 by blunt trauma or sharp objects during clashes, 5 by stampede or crowd crush, and 4 by other causes including arson.

The Role of Security Forces

Of the 18 gunshot deaths, KNCHR attributed 12 to police action during crowd control operations. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) opened investigations into 8 incidents of police use of lethal force during the election period. As of mid-2023, no officer had been charged.

Kenya deployed approximately 150,000 security personnel for the 2022 election. The rules of engagement issued by the Inspector General of Police emphasised proportional force, but the gap between policy and practice was evident in the 12 police-attributed deaths.

IPOA noted that the 12 police-attributed deaths in 2022 represented a significant reduction from 33 police-attributed deaths in 2017. However, the authority emphasised that any loss of life during democratic exercises is unacceptable and called for better training in crowd management and non-lethal alternatives.

The IEBC Officials

The 2022 election also saw the deaths of 2 IEBC officials during the electoral process. Daniel Musyoka, the returning officer for Embakasi East constituency, went missing on 11 August and was found dead in Kilombero Forest, Kajiado County, on 15 August. His death remains unsolved. Another IEBC clerk died in a road accident while transporting election materials in Tharaka Nithi.

The deaths of election officials send a chilling message about the risks faced by those who administer democracy. For the 2027 election, IEBC will need to strengthen the security protocols for returning officers and election staff, particularly during the tallying phase.

Preventing Violence in 2027

Several interventions can reduce electoral violence:

1. Early warning systems: The NCIC's Uwiano Platform for Peace monitored hate speech and incitement in real time during 2022. Expanding this to cover social media platforms and local language broadcasts could improve early detection.
2. Transparent results transmission: The 100% electronic transmission in 2022 reduced post-election uncertainty. Continuing this in 2027 is essential.
3. Party primary reform: With 14 of 38 deaths occurring during primaries, reforming the party nomination process is the single most impactful intervention.
4. Accountability for security forces: Charging officers responsible for extrajudicial killings during elections would deter excessive force.

This article is dedicated to the 38 Kenyans who lost their lives during the 2022 electoral process. Their names, where publicly recorded, are held in the KNCHR report "Silenced Voices: A Human Rights Account of the 2022 General Elections."