Category: Politics

The results announced by NEC chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa show that Kagame of the RPF Inkotanyi party is leading in the presidential race with 7,099,810 votes, which represents 99.15 percent of the votes tallied so far. Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda follows with 38,301 votes (0.53%), and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana managed a meagre 22,753 votes (0.32%).

Reacting to the results, Habineza said his party had accepted the results and congratulated Kagame ahead of the official announcement of the final results.

“Dear Rwandans, we have received the preliminary results released by the NEC. We would like to announce that we have accepted these results and extend our congratulations to the winner, His Excellency Paul Kagame,” Habineza said at Olympic Hotel in Kimironko, Kigali, where he was awaiting the results.

He left the hotel immediately after the comments.

Mpayimana, on his part, told journalists that the announced results were provisional and that he remains hopeful as the country awaits the final declaration of the results.

At the time of the announcement of the partial results on Monday night, NEC had tallied 7,160,864 votes, representing 78.94 percent of the votes cast.

A total of 9,071,157 Rwandans had registered to vote in the 2024 general election. Gasinzigwa said Monday’s voter turnout was 98 percent.

The NEC boss will announce provisional results on July 20, with final results expected on July 27.

Meanwhile, Kagame’s victory mirrors the outcome of the 2017 polls, where he won with 98.8 percent of the votes cast. Mpayimana and Habineza, who also challenged him in the 2017 election, got 0.73 and 0.48 percent of the votes cast respectively.

Reacting to his poised victory on Monday, President Kagame said that receiving a high number of votes demonstrates the continued trust Rwandans have in him.

“This electoral process of campaigning and voting, and now the results we are seeing, signify something very important in a person’s life. It shows trust, and I thank you for that. Trust is not easy to come by. It is not something you give to someone in an instant and then immediately receive in return; trust is something built over time,” Kagame told supporters gathered at RPF Inkotanyi headquarters in Rusororo.

“If you observe, because of this trust, all these years we have spent together […] I am never surprised by anything, no matter the difficulties we have gone through or will go through in the future. The reason is exactly that, the trust I was talking about. I am confident that, together, we will solve any problem we face.”

This announcement was made on July 15, 2024, following the participation of Rwandans both within the country and abroad who voted for the President and 53 Members of Parliament from various political parties and independent candidates.

Other presidential candidates include Dr. Frank Habineza of the DGPR party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.

According to partial results; Dr. Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda received 0.53% of the votes, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana got 0.32%.

The Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission, Oda Gasinzigwa, noted that the elections were conducted smoothly and that the voter turnout was impressive.

“We greatly appreciate all Rwandans, both in Rwanda and abroad, for their participation in the elections, achieving an impressive turnout rate of 98%,” she stated.

By Monday, 7,160,864 votes had been counted, with an expected turnout of over nine million Rwandans and 98% voter turnout, according to Gasinzigwa. NEC will announce provisional results on July 20, with final results expected on July 27.

Paul Kagame, the incumbent President and candidate of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), along with his opponents, Dr Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, followed the same voting procedures as the general public.

Voting took place on July 15, 2024, across numerous polling stations throughout the country. The polling stations opened early in the morning, allowing voters to cast their ballots in an orderly manner.

Each candidate participated in the voting process by going to their designated polling stations. They were seen engaging with voters and encouraging a peaceful and fair election.

Accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, the President arrived at Gacuriro Technical Secondary School in Kinyinya Sector SOS Kagugu in Gasabo at 1:00 pm.

Unlike other Presidential Candidates, after casting his vote, Kagame did not speak to the
media.

Dr Habineza voted from GS Kimironko 2 polling center in Gasabo district. He expressed optimism about winning the vote.

“I am so happy to have exercised my fundamental right by voting. Having traversed the country during the campaigns, I come to vote with a solid hope that I will win with 55% and be the next President,” he said.

Habineza said that his party is certain of securing a minimum of at least 20 slots for Members of Parliament.

According to him, the smooth campaign and election exercise indicates that Rwanda has taken a big step in ensuring the prevalence of democracy.

Similarly, independent Presidential hopeful, Phillippe Mpayimana voted from Camp Kigali polling station in Nyarugenge district.

He said that after winning (as he expects), the electorate should keep him in check based on the promises he has made throughout the campaign period.

“I am confident of winning but not 100% in fact I don’t want to win 100%. All I want is to win and show Rwandans the beauty of how they can participate in the country’s democratic process.

“After winning, I kindly request you keep asking me about the progress on the assurances included in my manifesto,” he added.

From his observation throughout the campaigns, Mpayimana said that the population yearns to get to know and vote for particular names of candidates instead of just symbols of political parties.

The National Electoral Commission has ensured that all registered voters are able to vote by implementing a technology to update voter statuses seamlessly.

The registration process was facilitated through online platforms in addition to the use of a USSD code, ensuring that all registered voters participate in the electoral process.

The National Electoral Commission established over 2,500 polling stations nationwide to ensure a fair voting process.

NEC’s Vice Chairperson, Nicole Mutimucyeye has revealed that tentative election results will be announced by 10:00 pm on voting day with the final results expected on July 27, 2024.

Other presidential candidates, Dr. Frank Habineza of the DGPR party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, also voted earlier in the day around 10 AM.

The RPF Inkotanyi candidate has shown confidence in winning the elections, based on the high turnout of supporters at various campaign sites.

On July 13, during a campaign event at Gahanga site in Kicukiro District, Kagame told the crowd, “I truly feel confident that everything will go well as it should. I will return here for us to celebrate, to celebrate victory.”

Dr. Habineza, as he mentioned at the end of his campaign activities, reaffirmed on July 15 that he has a 55% chance of winning the presidency.

Mpayimana, who voted at Camp Kigali site in Nyarugenge District, told the media that he also believes in his victory and assured his supporters that they will smile when the National Electoral Commission announces the preliminary election results.

The voting process will conclude at 3 PM. It is expected that the National Electoral Commission will announce the preliminary results in the evening.

Enthusiastic voters started arriving at polling centres as early as 4:00 a.m. to exercise their civic duty. However, it was not until 7:00 a.m. that they were allowed to access polling stations and cast their votes, in line with the guidelines of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

Over nine million registered voters are expected to cast their votes before the polls close at 3:00 p.m.

As thousands of voters continued to stream in to elect their new leaders, many were overrun with joy and excitement about exercise.

Emile Galois Kazeneza, a forward for the national men’s basketball team implored the youth to turn out in large numbers to make their choices count in the next government.

“I am very happy to be part of the 2024 elections, and I encourage the youth to participate,” said Kazeneza, who also plays for Kepler Basketball Club.

Ariella Ampoze Rurebwayire, who just turned 18, couldn’t hide her excitement as she cast her first vote in the presidential and parliamentary election.

“This is really incredible,” she beamed, “to be able to choose my own president.”

A Filipino couple who have lived in Rwanda for 29 years and acquired Rwandan nationality lauded the NEC and the Rwandan community for meticulously organizing the peaceful election.

“I am very happy, very surprised by how well the Rwandan community organized the elections—very well organized and peaceful,” Gilbert said, adding that elections in his home country are often not peaceful.

Gilbert and his wife arrived in the country in 1995. This is their third time participating in Rwanda’s elections.

Father Vincent Nsengiyuma, who cast his vote at the GS Giheke site in Rusizi District, said he was glad to contribute to the choice of the country’s leadership.

“We, as servants of God, also have the right to vote because we are citizens. Even though someone has dedicated their life to serving God, we are Rwandans and we have a say as citizens in contributing to the election of our leaders.”

The presidential election has attracted three candidates this year. The candidates are incumbent President Paul Kagame of the RPF Inkotanyi, Dr Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and independent candidate Phillippe Mpayimana.

Habineza cast his vote at Goupe Scolaire 2, in Kimironko, Gasabo District. He told the media that he expects to win the 2024 elections with at least 55% of the votes and secure at least 20 seats in the parliamentary elections.

“My expectation as I mentioned last week is that I am hoping to get at least 55% of the vote for president and ten times more MPS. We had two MPs and hoping to have at least 20 MPs this time,” said Habineza.

Mpayimana cast his vote at the Camp Kigali polling station in Nyarugenge District, while President Kagame voted at SOS polling station in Gasabo District.

The general election kicked off in the diaspora on Sunday, July 14, 2024, with Rwandans across 70 countries participating in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

In Rwanda, voting started at 7:00 am on Monday, July 15, and is scheduled to close at 3:00 pm.

On Tuesday, July 16, female Members of Parliament, two youth representatives, and one representative of people living with disabilities will be elected by special electoral colleges across the country.

{{Maraga’s Role
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According to EAC Secretary-General Veronica Nduva, Maraga will lead a group of 55 observers across the country to monitor how the elections are conducted in line with existing laws.

The team will then be required to file a detailed report, highlighting key aspects of the electoral process including electoral preparedness, polling day events, and result declaration.

“The team will be assessing the level of compliance with the electoral processes and management to the international, regional, and national established laws, principles, and practices,” Maraga stated after his appointment.

“It will also be assessing adherence to the democratic principles of the EAC as enshrined in the Treaty; and offering objective recommendations for continuous improvement for the conduct of such elections.”

Yesterday, Maraga hosted mission heads from the African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to a breakfast engagement in Kigali. The Mission heads shared experiences on Rwanda’s preparedness for the general election.

Three candidates are vying for the presidency in Rwanda in this year’s polls. They are independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Paul Kagame, the incumbent president and flag bearer of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi).

Maraga served as Kenya’s Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya between October 2016 and January 2021.

The former CJ’s tenure was marked by the historic nullification of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election in 2017. It was the first presidential election to be annulled not only in Kenya but also on the whole African continent.

A seven-judge bench led by Maraga cited illegalities and irregularities as the reason for nullifying the election results contested by opposition leader Raila Odinga.

“The greatness of any nation lies in its fidelity to the Constitution and adherence to the rule of law and, above all, respect for God,” Maraga remarked in a brief ruling.

Uhuru easily won a repeat election ordered by the Supreme Court after Odinga’s party boycotted the polls.

In a statement released Sunday, July 14, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified Crooks as a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles south of Butler, where Trump was holding his rally.

Crooks is reported to have opened fire from a nearby building rooftop, causing panic in the crowd. Photos and videos that went viral on social media moments after the shooting showed Trump holding his bloodied ear before dropping to the ground, where Secret Service agents helped him take cover.

Trump was rushed off stage, but not before boldly pumping his fist into the air and twice telling the crowd to “fight!” He was then taken by car to a hospital in the Pittsburgh area.

Later, he posted on social media that he had been hit by a bullet in the upper part of his ear.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Trump’s campaigners said the Republican was doing “fine” after the shooting.

Authorities have since confirmed that one person was killed and two others were left in critical condition after the shooting.

Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents at the scene and the FBI has promised investigations into the shocking incident.

Media reports indicate that Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022.

Preliminary investigations show that he was registered to vote as a Republican, according to a listing in Pennsylvania’s voter database that matched his name, age, and a Bethel Park address.

This year’s presidential election would have been his first voting.

President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term in the forthcoming polls, condemned the shooting incident, adding that he was grateful Trump is “safe and doing well.”

“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” Biden said in a statement.

Trump, a member of the Republican Party, is running for a second, non-consecutive term in the November 5, 2024, general election after losing to Biden in the 2020 polls.

Polling in the diaspora was conducted at 160 stations in 70 countries, including 44 embassies.

A total of 77,138 voters in the diaspora, comprising 41,243 males and 35,895 females, had registered to vote in this year’s general election, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). By press time, many had already turned up to cast their votes.

Overall, 9,071,157 Rwandans, including 4.2 million males and 4,845,417 females, are eligible to vote in this year’s general election.

Rwandans living in Saudi Arabia turned out in large numbers at the Embassy of Rwanda in Riyadh to cast their votes. Embassy officials said the Rwandans “were excited to exercise their civic right in voting for leaders of their choice.”

By 7 am (Rwandan time), Rwandans in Belgium and Luxembourg mobilized in large numbers to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Twenty-six-year-old Mike Ntasinzira could not hide his excitement to vote for the first time. He said, “We didn’t engage in politics a lot back home, but in recent years, I have become closer to the community and got interested in learning more about my country.”

In Gothenburg, Sweden, voting was a family affair as children escorted their parents to the polling stations.

“I am a first-time voter and I am super excited. It has been raining, but today I feel blessed and really happy to contribute in choosing the good leaders of our country and our future,” said 25-year-old Sonya Isimbi.

Long queues were also witnessed at Rwandan embassies in Kampala, Uganda; Nairobi, Kenya; Dar es Salaam, and Rabat in Morocco, as citizens came out to exercise their civic rights.

In Germany, voting took place in Berlin and Kaiserslautern, where enthusiastic Rwandans turned out to make their choices count in this year’s polls.

Like other Rwandans living in the Central African Republic, members of Rwanda’s security forces who are in the country on a mission to restore peace were elated to also participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

The diaspora was the first group to vote in the general election. Locals are scheduled to vote for the President and Members of the house (Chamber of Deputies) on Monday, July 15 2024.

On July 16, 24 female Members of Parliament, two youth representatives, and one representative of people living with disabilities will be elected by special electoral colleges across the country.

Three candidates are vying for the Presidency in Rwanda in this year’s polls.
They are independent Candidate Philippe Mpayimana, Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Paul Kagame, the incumbent president and flag bearer of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi.