By Mirembe Martina

The upcoming Kenya elections have caused nostalgia in relation to the past Kenya elections in 2007 which saw a bout of post-election violence which saw many dead.

With less than a month to the presidential elections to be held in the country again, Uganda is cautious. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kuteesa has said there are precautions which have been taken to ensure peace even after the elections come March 4th.

He said there are legal and administrative structures which have been up in place to ensure that in case the post election violence that marred Kenya in 2007 repeats itself again and that Uganda is prepared for any consequences.

Monday saw Kenya hold its first presidential debates between all the eight presidential candidates. However, in the course of the debates, two candidates stood out; Raila Odinga, the Kenyan prime minister, and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta. At the end of the debates, Odinga managed to win with 46% against Uhuru Kenyatta’s 40% according to polls.

The debate saw the candidates discuss several pressing issues, including tribalism which was one of the causes of the post-election violence in the 2007 elections. There are eight candidates vying for the seat of the president of Kenya and they are Odinga, Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi (Amani), Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), Peter Kenneth (Eagle), James ole Kiyiapi (RBK), Paul Muite (Safina) and Mohamed Abduda Dida (ARK).

A second debate will be held at the end of the month just before the elections and will be mediated by Joe Ageyo and Uduak Amimo.