After the violence during the country's 2008 election, Kenyan tech company Ushahidi formed and developed a platform for mapping the violence. With the upcoming 2013 election in Kenya, the company has again mobilized with the program Uchaguzi - a mapping tool which allows both local citizens and "global helpers" to visually present data about the election in real time.
Uchaguzi is a citizen initiative which utilizes tools like Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. There are various Wikis for the project which allow users to share information and work together. The stated goals of the project are to: "share the information from the crowd, verify details and respond."
According to an article in Project Pan-Africa, violence is once again expected during Kenya's upcoming election. The article says that a lead investigator of the previous election's problems, Johan Kriegler, warned that "violence could recur every five years if measures were not put in place."
Uchaguzi is, according to its Twitter page, "Using technology through partnerships to empower citizens to protect their elections." They are mobilizing in advance of the election in order to be prepared and efficient when election day arrives. According to Hivos, "The project’s technology platforms provide a neutral and secure space through which citizens can channel their voices directly to authorities."
Uchaguzi is a citizen-run tool which allows both citizen journalists and ordinary people to provide information on potential problems and to bring them to the attention of the authorities. This seems like a very useful project and one which will hopefully help to quell unrest and make the election a smoother, less violent event.