News / Africa

Kenyatta Holds Lead in Kenya Presidential Vote

A Kenyan looks at a newspaper a day after the country's presidential election, at a roadside stall in Nairobi, Kenya,  March 5, 2013.
A Kenyan looks at a newspaper a day after the country's presidential election, at a roadside stall in Nairobi, Kenya, March 5, 2013.
TEXT SIZE - +
VOA News
The latest results from Monday's Kenyan elections show Uhuru Kenyatta maintaining his lead in the race for president.

With more than 40 percent of polling stations reporting, Kenyatta leads his main opponent, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, 53 to 42 percent.

However, Odinga's campaign manager maintains the prime minister will catch up once more votes from Odinga strongholds are counted.

Some Kenyans used social media Tuesday to vent frustration with the slow pace of the vote counting, and over an increasing number of rejected ballots.

Kenya's election commission says more than 300,000 ballots have been rejected so far. The commission chairman, Ahmed Isaack Hassan, suggested those ballots were marked incorrectly or dropped into the wrong box at pollling stations.

  • Lines form down the road to Mutomo Primary School as voters exercise patience during the Kenyan general elections of March 4, 2013. (J. Craig/VOA)
  • People reported standing in line for several hours before casting their vote in Kenya’s general elections in Gatundu, Kenya, March 4, 2013.” (J. Craigs/VOA)
  • Some voters arrived before 6:30 am and did not cast their ballots until after 11 am at Mutomo Primary School in Gatundu, Kenya, March 4, 2013 elections. (J.Craig/VOA)
  • Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta votes in his home constituency of Gatundu, Kenya, March 4, 2013. (J. Craig/VOA)
  • Election officials check voters’ cards at the Mutomo Primary School, where voting for the Gatundu constituency took place, March 4, 2013. (J. Craig/VOA)
  • The line grows longer outside the Mutomo Primary School as crowds prepare to cast their ballots, Gatundu, Kenya, March 4, 2013. (J. Craig/VOA)
  • A father carries his daughter as he waits his turn to vote at the Mutomo Primary School, March 4, 2013. (J. Craig/VOA)
  • An election officer marks the finger of a man who cast his vote, Gatundu, Kenya, March 4, 2013. (J. Craig/VOA)

Hassan appealed for patience and calm while the vote counting continues.

About 14 million Kenyans were eligible to vote in the elections for president, parliament, and other key offices. Both Odinga and Kenyatta have promised to respect the result of the vote.

Kenyatta faces trial at the International Criminal Court on charges he helped organize the ethnic violence which followed the disputed 2007 presidential election voting. More than 1,100 people were killed in that violence.

Monday's election in Kenya was mostly peaceful, although just hours before voting began, at least 13 people, including seven police officers, were killed along Kenya’s coast. Three suspects were arraigned in court Tuesday.

Kenya MapKenya Map
Election chairman Hassan, who said there were no reported incidents of violence during voting hours, also added that voter turnout appears to have been above 70 percent.   

Monday's voting took place under tight security, with nearly 100,000 police officers deployed across the country.

The U.S. State Department condemned what it called "isolated incidences of violence" in Kenya but said election observers reported the vote was generally calm and peaceful.

You May Like

South Africa to Host World's Biggest Telescope

South Africa competed against Australia to host the telescope, the final decision was to split the SKA between the two countries More

Report: Global Warming Could Reverse Development

World Bank study says warmer climates threaten advances and could exacerbate poverty in world’s poorest regions More

Inmates Fight Fires, Gain Skills for Life After Prison

In California, physically fit inmates with no history of violent crimes can train, work as firefighters while serving their time More

This forum has been closed.
Comment Sorting
Comments
     
by: jackam from: ksa
March 06, 2013 9:03 AM
iam so happy for kenyans coducting fare election.and thank god 4listening to my prayers althour idid not vote coz am out of the country.

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Inmates Fight Fires, Gain Skills for Life After Prison

The western state of California is known for wildfires that can quickly burn out of control, and this year the fire season has been extremely busy. Because of the fire risk, the state has some of the most experienced firefighters in the industry. It also enlists the help of prisoners to stop the fires. VOA's Elizabeth Lee reports from southern California.