Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta was on Saturday officially declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election, beating out his rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to clinch a first-round victory.
The Kenyatta victory could complicate Kenyan foreign relations with Western nations, as he is to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in June for his alleged involvement in ethnic violence after an election in 2007.
Mr. Kenyatta, 51, received more than 6.13 million votes -- compared to his rival’s 5.3 million -- giving the deputy premier 50.07 per cent of all ballots cast in an election that saw the highest voter turnout in the East African nation’s history.
“I, therefore, declare Uhuru Kenyatta the duly elected president of Kenya,” announced Isaack Hassan, the head of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
However, the election process will likely face a legal challenge from Odinga, who received less than 44 per cent of the vote in his third attempt to be elected to the presidency.
Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, a senior aid to Mr. Odinga, said a petition would “definitely” be lodged with the Supreme Court, the highest legal body in the land, citing irregularities and a lack of transparency in the counting process.
Mr. Hassan on Friday admitted there were “errors,” but said the “results are credible.” Supporters of Kenyatta’s Jubilee Coalition began celebrating on the streets of Nairobi late on Friday as it became clear their candidates was holding a steady lead.
They erupted into shouts of joy as the final results were announced, some waving red flags and blowing on loud horns on the streets.
A spokesman for Mr. Kenyatta and his running mate, William Ruto, earlier said the pair were “proud and honoured” by the provisional results. The party leaders were expected to make addresses later in the day. Ruto also faces ICC charges.
Some 14.3 million Kenyans registered to vote in this election and more than 12.3 million votes were cast.
“The number of voters is historic and impressive -- the largest turnout ever in a Kenyan election,” Hassan said.
President Mwai Kibaki is set to step down after reaching his two-term limit in office.
The official declaration of a winner was delayed by several hours Saturday.
Indeed, the tally was supposed to be completed within 48 hours of Monday’s polling. However, a massive failure of a newly installed and expensive computer system forced election officials to deliver ballot boxes from around the country to Nairobi, where they were counted manually.
The electronic mess has been a blow to Kenya, which is trying to build itself up as a technology hub in East Africa.
Barring serious legal challenges, Mr. Kenyatta would be sworn in as president before the end of the month.
Kenyatta would be Kenya’s fourth president since independence from Britain 50 years ago. His father, Jomo Kenyatta, was the nation’s first president and was in office for about 13 years.
The elder Kenyatta ran a one-party state, but is still seen as the father of the nation and appears on the country’s currency, though a new law will soon ban such portraits on currency.
The winner of the election will face a country suffering from underdevelopment and unemployment. Tribalism is also rife and is seen as a hurdle to overcome.
This is Kenya’s first election since the December 2007 presidential run-off descended into ethnic bloodshed, in which at least 1,000 people died and hundreds of thousands were displaced.
A coalition government was formed several months later with international support, ending the violence.
There has been a boosted security presence in Nairobi and other potential hotspots, but the recent elections have been largely peaceful.
The election chief called on citizens and politicians to respect the results.
“We urge all of you again to recall our commitment to rule of law ... there can be victory without victims.”
The Kenyatta victory could complicate Kenyan foreign relations with Western nations, as he is to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in June for his alleged involvement in ethnic violence after an election in 2007.
Mr. Kenyatta, 51, received more than 6.13 million votes -- compared to his rival’s 5.3 million -- giving the deputy premier 50.07 per cent of all ballots cast in an election that saw the highest voter turnout in the East African nation’s history.
“I, therefore, declare Uhuru Kenyatta the duly elected president of Kenya,” announced Isaack Hassan, the head of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
However, the election process will likely face a legal challenge from Odinga, who received less than 44 per cent of the vote in his third attempt to be elected to the presidency.
Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, a senior aid to Mr. Odinga, said a petition would “definitely” be lodged with the Supreme Court, the highest legal body in the land, citing irregularities and a lack of transparency in the counting process.
Mr. Hassan on Friday admitted there were “errors,” but said the “results are credible.” Supporters of Kenyatta’s Jubilee Coalition began celebrating on the streets of Nairobi late on Friday as it became clear their candidates was holding a steady lead.
They erupted into shouts of joy as the final results were announced, some waving red flags and blowing on loud horns on the streets.
A spokesman for Mr. Kenyatta and his running mate, William Ruto, earlier said the pair were “proud and honoured” by the provisional results. The party leaders were expected to make addresses later in the day. Ruto also faces ICC charges.
Some 14.3 million Kenyans registered to vote in this election and more than 12.3 million votes were cast.
“The number of voters is historic and impressive -- the largest turnout ever in a Kenyan election,” Hassan said.
President Mwai Kibaki is set to step down after reaching his two-term limit in office.
The official declaration of a winner was delayed by several hours Saturday.
Indeed, the tally was supposed to be completed within 48 hours of Monday’s polling. However, a massive failure of a newly installed and expensive computer system forced election officials to deliver ballot boxes from around the country to Nairobi, where they were counted manually.
The electronic mess has been a blow to Kenya, which is trying to build itself up as a technology hub in East Africa.
Barring serious legal challenges, Mr. Kenyatta would be sworn in as president before the end of the month.
Kenyatta would be Kenya’s fourth president since independence from Britain 50 years ago. His father, Jomo Kenyatta, was the nation’s first president and was in office for about 13 years.
The elder Kenyatta ran a one-party state, but is still seen as the father of the nation and appears on the country’s currency, though a new law will soon ban such portraits on currency.
The winner of the election will face a country suffering from underdevelopment and unemployment. Tribalism is also rife and is seen as a hurdle to overcome.
This is Kenya’s first election since the December 2007 presidential run-off descended into ethnic bloodshed, in which at least 1,000 people died and hundreds of thousands were displaced.
A coalition government was formed several months later with international support, ending the violence.
There has been a boosted security presence in Nairobi and other potential hotspots, but the recent elections have been largely peaceful.
The election chief called on citizens and politicians to respect the results.
“We urge all of you again to recall our commitment to rule of law ... there can be victory without victims.”
Source : TheHindu
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