General elections were held in Kenya on 29 December 1992 to elect the president and members of the National Assembly. They were the first multi-party general elections in Kenya since independence and the first to feature a direct vote for the president, who had been elected by the National Assembly in 1964 and been automatically declared the winner of uncontested elections held alongside parliamentary elections in 1969, 1974, 1979, 1983, and 1988 following a 1969 constitutional amendment.
In preparation for the election, the ruling KANU party manipulated constituent boundaries to enable it to retain a parliamentary majority.
The results were marred by irregularities, including allegations of large-scale intimidation of opponents, harassment of election officials, and ballot-box stuffing, as well as targeted ethnic violence in the Rift Valley Province. Human Rights Watch accused several prominent Kenyan politicians, including President Daniel arap Moi and then-VP George Saitoti, of inciting and co-ordinating the violence.Human Rights Watch (1993) Divide and Rule: State Sponsored Ethnic Violence in Kenya Voter turnout was 69%.Elections held in 1992 Inter-Parliamentary UnionDieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p486
The election failed to dislodge Moi from power but was still described as a watershed for Kenya's democratic transition.
Background In 1991, Kenya transitioned to a multiparty political system after 26 years of single-party rule under KANU. On 28 October 1992, President Moi dissolved parliament, five months before the end of his term. As a result, preparations began for all elective seats in parliament as well as the president. The elections were scheduled to take place on 7 December 1992, but delays led to their postponement to 29 December the same year.
Results President
By province ProvinceMoiMatibaKibakiOdingaOthersTotalVotes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Central21,9182.1630,19460.4373,14735.810,6681.06,9450.71,042,872Coast188,29662.133,39911.032,20110.642,79614.16,6532.2303,345Eastern290,37237.079,43610.1392,48150.013,6731.78,8191.1784,781North Eastern46,42074.87,18811.63,2595.35,0848.2730.162,024Nairobi62,41016.6165,55344.169,71518.675,88820.21,9440.5375,510Nyanza117,55415.210,2991.351,9986.7581,49075.49,8071.3771,148Rift Valley981,48871.5214,72715.698,3027.275,4655.53,5350.31,373,517Western219,18739.3214,06038.414,4042.698,82217.710,8461.9557,319Total1,927,64536.61,354,85625.71,035,50719.6903,88617.148,6220.95,270,516Source: Nohlen et al.
National Assembly Following the elections, Moi nominated a further 12 KANU members to the National Assembly.Elections in Kenya African Elections Database
Aftermath In the aftermath of the election, Kenya suffered an economic crisis propagated by ethnic violence as the president was accused of rigging electoral results to retain power. Over the next five years, numerous political alliances emerged to prepare for the upcoming elections. In 1994, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died, and several coalitions joined his FORD Kenya party to form a new party called the United National Democratic Alliance. Disagreements plagued this party. In 1996, KANU revised the constitution to allow Moi to remain president for another term.
In 1993, Kenneth Matiba filed a petition against the election results. However, his failure to personally sign the petition resulted in the petition being struck out by Justice Riaga Omolo. Matiba was physically incapacitated and had given his wife power of attorney. In 2012, Justice Omolo was declared unfit to serve in the judiciary by the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board over this decision.Why this election may be won in courts The Star, 12 January 2013
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