Violence was rampant in the aftermath of Kenya's presidential election in 2007. That year, the opposition's anger merged with entrenched ethnic conflicts to leave over 1,000 people dead, hundreds of thousands displaced and the regional economy in tatters. Now as the East African powerhouse approaches its next presidential election on Aug. 8, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his challenger, Raila Odinga, are jockeying for the public's support. And the question on the minds of many is whether the country can prevent a repeat of the bloodshed it saw a decade ago . An Uneasy Calm Though unrest is unlikely to reach the level seen after the 2007 vote, there are signs that the upcoming contest could result in some violence. First, Kenyan politics are still largely dominated by ethnic affiliations.