Referendum Day

PHOTOS:

Above, I have included some photos from around where we live. You can see the contrast of our pool with the tall walls and barbed wire enclosing us in our apartment buildings vs. the outside environment. It is an interesting paradox to live in, and being more restricted in terms of mobility makes you appreciate the freedom and access at home.

REFERENDUM DAY:

Today is quiet. We are not allowed to leave our apartment compound due to the referendum taking place. (While all indications point to a very peaceful process, the University of Washington is cautious about such matters and thus have imposed these restrictions.)

I talked to the security guard this morning about his perspective on the constitutional vote. He was so excited to vote! I saw 2 other Kenyans as well around our complex and they were absolutely enthused to cast their vote! The polls are marking voters pinky fingers with indelible purple ink so that they may not vote more than once.

I have been watching the news as well and it appears to be a peaceful and orderly process. The referendum was on the front page of the New York Times yesterday. It is truly a monumental event for Kenya – as I mentioned, my coworker at Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) feels it is more important even than independence from Britain in 1963!

So today is a quiet day for us. I am mainly catching up on schoolwork. Tomorrow hopefully we will know the results of the election (but the outcome may be delayed as it often takes time to tally the votes and due to long travel distances, sometimes the voting process here can take days). If the outcome is a YES for the new constitution, my colleagues at KHRC plan to celebrate! KHRC was deeply involved with the drafting of the new constitution, as has been a top supporter of the legislature.
I will write more soon when there is news!

.