Kenya’s presidential election looks too close to call

Kenya’s outgoing president with his own tribe means that the election of his successor on August 9th is too close to call. Uhuru Kenyatta holds the most famous surname of the country’s largest and most politically dominant tribe, the Kikuyu. His father, Jomo, was among Africa’s best-known anti-colonial heroes before becoming Kenya’s first president in 1964. Mr Kenyatta serves as its fourth. The main street in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, bears the Kenyatta name. So does its international airport, and one of its two top universities.Given this reverence, one might assume that Mr Kenyatta would have some sway over the vote of his kinsmen. Having served two terms, the maximum allowed by the constitution, he has vigorously endorsed Raila Odinga, a seasoned opposition campaigner whom he beat in Kenya’s two previous elections, both of which were fraught. Mr Odinga’s chief rival for the top job is William Ruto, the current deputy president, who ran together with Mr Kenyatta last time round. But the outgoing president fell out with him a few years ago and now vilifies him.