🇰🇪 As it happened: William Ruto, 55, elected Kenya's fifth president
9th August 2022
It is President-elect William Ruto after a closely-fought 2022 Kenyan presidential election.
Kenyan President-elect William Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza coalition delivers a speech at the IEBC Bomas of Kenya national tallying centre in Nairobi on August 15, 2022. (AFP)
Presented by Joseph Kizza (Scroll down this for earlier updates. All times indicated are EAT) ____________________
UDA'S WILLIAM RUTO IS ELECTED THE 5TH PRESIDENT OF KENYA.
8:17 pm | END OF THIS LIVE PAGE
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Cheers!
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8:15 pm | 'I called my competitor' - President-elect Ruto
In his first address to the media at Bomas of Kenya as president-elect, Ruto touches on a number of issues, including campaigns, the electoral commission, events that unfolded today, as well as briefy on his next plans as president.
He says his team and him have already worked out their governance plan in the first 100 days, the medium term and further.
He also says that it should have been clear for doubters that he was on course for election victory ahead of today's announcement by the IEBC "unless you were just coming from the Moon".
Ruto tells reporters that he phoned his main challenger, Raila Odinga, earlier today (Monday) and "we agreed that whatever the outcome, we should have a discussion".
He also talks of why he has friction with the media sometimes, going on to claim that the information he had received indicates that says the media gave his competitor 65% coverage and him 35% during the election period.
But he is keen to add that there is no love lost between him and the members of the Fourth Estate and that he plans to engage with them much more.
____________________
7:20 pm
There is no reaction yet from Ruto's main challenger, Raila Odinga. But the Azimio leader's running mate, Martha Karua, has tweeted that:
"It is not over till it is over . . ." ____________________
7:15 pm
In his acceptance speech earlier, President-elect William Ruto says it has been God that has seen him through his presidential race victory. He extends a similar divine tone over to his social media, where he he applies biblical contexts to his post-victory tweets.
He writes: In that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted." — Isaiah 12:4
And adds: “For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'” — Jeremiah 29:11 ____________________
7:00 pm | It is contrasting reactions . . .
Supporters of William Ruto are in jubilation across the country.
The supporters of Raila Odinga, on the other hand, are showing their disapproval of the IEBC announcement.
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6:40 pm | PROFILE: President-elect Ruto, the 'man on a mission'
By AFP:
William Ruto, now elected the fifth president of Kenya, is one of the wealthiest men in the country but likes to portray himself as a champion of the poor and downtrodden.
Despite being dogged by corruption allegations going back years, the ruthlessly ambitious 55-year-old clawed his way to the corridors of power by playing on his religious faith and humble beginnings selling chickens by the roadside.
He painted the August 9 poll, which as expected turned out into a two-horse race between him and veteran politician Raila Odinga, as a battle between ordinary "hustlers" and the elite "dynasties" that have dominated Kenyan politics for decades.
"We want everyone to feel the wealth of this country. Not just a few at the top," Ruto said as he criss-crossed the country promoting his "bottom-up" economic plan.
Ruto first dipped his toe into politics three decades ago, and has served as deputy president for nine years despite a very public and acrimonious falling out with his boss, the outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The shadowy rags-to-riches businessman has made his first stab at the presidency -- a post he thought he had in the bag as a reward for supporting Kenyatta in the 2013 and 2017 elections.
It was a political marriage of convenience in the aftermath of deadly post-poll violence in 2007-2008 that largely pitted Kikuyus -- Kenyatta's tribe -- against the Kalenjin, Ruto's ethnic group.
Both men were hauled before the International Criminal Court accused of stoking the ethnic unrest but the cases were eventually dropped, with the prosecution complaining of a relentless campaign of witness intimidation.
Their so-called "Uhuruto" alliance began unravelling after Kenyatta stunned the nation in 2018 with a pledge to work with Odinga, his longtime arch-rival who is now running with the endorsement of the ruling Jubilee party.
"I'm a man on a mission," Ruto declared last year, defying the president's call for him to resign as they clashed over Kenyatta's -- now failed -- bid to change the constitution.
Shifting allegiances between political leaders are common in Kenya, where Ruto himself had once lent his support to Odinga before switching to Kenyatta.
"Ruto is seen by many people to be one of the most effective strategists in Kenyan politics," said Nic Cheeseman, a political scientist at the University of Birmingham.
"He's someone with extensive experience of running campaigns, performing very well in campaigns, of seeing politics from both sides. He stood with Odinga, he stood with Kenyatta, he knows most of these figures intimately well, he knows their strengths and weaknesses."
On the campaign trail, Ruto's venom was directed as much at Kenyatta as his rival at the ballot box, blaming the government for the country's economic woes and even accusing the president of threatening him and his family.
Clad in the bright yellow of his United Democratic Alliance, whose symbol is the humble wheelbarrow, Ruto sought to reach out to those suffering most from the COVID-induced cost of living crisis that has been aggravated by the war in Ukraine.
"I think what Ruto did that was clever is it's the perfect time, he picked the perfect storm," said Kenyan political analyst Nerima Wako-Ojiwa.
But she added: "A lot of people have this fear that if he enters leadership, he is going to be the kind of person that we cannot take out."
Observers attribute Ruto's aggressiveness to the fact he has had to struggle to get everything he has achieved in life from his lowly start in Kenya's Rift Valley, the Kalenjin heartland.
"I sold chicken at a railway crossing near my home as a child... I paid (school) fees for my siblings," he once said. "God has been kind to me and through hard work and determination, I have something."
His fortune is now said to run into many millions of dollars, with interests spanning hotels, real estate and insurance as well as a vast chicken farm.
A teetotal father of six who describes himself as a born-again Christian, Ruto seldom lets a speech go by without thanking or praising God or reciting from the Bible.
He first got a foot on the political ladder -- and detractors claim, access to funds -- in 1992. After completing studies in botany, he headed the YK'92 youth movement tasked with drumming up support for the autocratic then-president Daniel arap Moi, also a Kalenjin.
In 1997, when he tried to launch his parliamentary career by contesting a seat on his home turf of Eldoret North, Moi told him he was a disrespectful son of a pauper.
Undeterred, Ruto went on to clinch the seat, which he retained in subsequent elections.
His detractors say he siphoned money from the YK'92 project and used it to go into business, and allegations of corruption and land grabs still hang over him.
But he dismisses such claims, once telling local media: "I can account for every coin that I have."
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6:34 pm | Ruto about to step into the shoes of four others
From President Jomo Kenyatta (1964 - 1978) . . .
To President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi (1978 - 2002) . . .
To President Mwai Kibaki (2002 - 2013) . . .
To President Uhuru Kenyatta (2013 - present/2022) . . .
And now to President-elect William Ruto . . .
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6:26 pm | 'I have been prayed into victory' - Ruto
President-elect Ruto thanks "my worthy competitor" Raila Odinga for a campaign in which "we all dwelled on issues and tried to sell an agenda to all the people of Kenya".
Ruto pledges to "work with all elected leaders in Kenya so that we can fashion our country so that we do not leave anyone behind". He also promises that he will run a "transparent and open government".
Ruto, who becomes the second Kenyan from the Kalenjin ethnic group to rise to the presidency after Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, says "there is no room for vengeance".
"Our country needs all hands on deck to move it forward. We do not have the luxury to look back. We do not have the luxury to point fingers. We do not have the luxury to apportion blame."
Ruto, who will become the fifth president of Kenya, says he has been "prayed into victory" and that "it is God who has brought us this victory".
"I am very confident that this country will come together and move forward as a united, democratic Republic of Kenya."
Ruto extends gratitude to family, friends and colleagues for their role in supporting his ascendency to the helm of Kenya's politics. He also thanks "my boss", Uhuru Kenyatta, the man he will replace and with whom he has worked as deputy for nine years, during which they fell out in recent years.
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6:15 pm | 'Kenyans are the winners' - Ruto
President-elect William Ruto says he is proud to "witness this momentous occasion as the people of Kenya restate what is in Article 1 of the Constitution - that states that all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya".
In his acceptance speech, he says many thought he would not be at this ballot but he defied those odds. "Without God, we would not have been here."
Ruto goes on: "My gratitude also goes out to Kenyans ....the millions who participated in this election...and the millions who have waited patiently for this announcement to be made."
He says that they have jointly raised the bar.
"This election has been about issues and not the ethnic configurations that have always informed our elections."
The 55-year-old politician says "there are no losers in this election" and that "the people of Kenya have won because we have raised the bar."
"The people of Kenya are the biggest winners. Thr hero of this election is the IEBC, led by Wafula Chebukati. I say this with conviction that the IEBC amazed all over us, says Ruto, describing the electoral commission boss as "soft-spoken but firm". ____________________
6:10 pm | GACHAGUA IS DEPUTY PRESIDENT-ELECT
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati also declares Rigathi Gachaua, Ruto's running mate in this election, the deputy president-elect.
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6:05 pm | BREAKING NEWS - RUTO TAKES IT! 🇰🇪
The chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) - Kenya's electoral commission - Wafula Chebukati announces and declares William Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza (One Kenya) coalition as the winner of the August 9, 2022 presidential election with 7,176,141 votes (50.49%).
He beats closest challenger Raila Odinga of Azimio, who garnered 6,942,930 (48.85%).
President-elect Ruto, 55, will succeed Uhuru Kenyatta - a man he has deputised for the last nine years- as the fifth president of the Republic of Kenya.
____________________
6:01 pm | 'This is my last election' - Chebukati
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati says that despite facing "intimidation and harrassment", they have managed to successfully conduct the election.
"I took an oath of office to serve this country, I have done my duty in accordance with the laws of the land."
"This will be my last election to preside over." ____________________
5:55 pm
Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit leads the prayer session, where he urges peace and magnanimity from the winners. ____________________
5:55 pm | Chebukati enters national tallying centre
Calm is restored inside the national tallying centre.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati, who is the national returning centre, walks into the auditorium. ____________________
5:49 pm | Ruto enters national tallying centre
The deputy president and UDA presidential candidate William Ruto, his running mate Rigathi Gachagua, and their wives have been led into the national tallying centre auditorium.
Almost immediately, before they can settle down, all rise for the anthems - Kenyan and then East African. ____________________
5:30 pm | Group of IEBC talks of 'opaque nature of last phase'
Four IEBC commissioners, including vice-chairperson Juliana Cherera, have just addressed a press conference at Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
"We have done the 2022 general election in the most effective and efficient manner. We have ensured that all the challenges have been contained," says Cherera.
"We have ensured that we have improved the standard...We have partenered with all stakeholders....But some things need to be put out there."
The vice-chairperson of the electoral commission says they are not at Bomas of Kenya - the national tallying centre - "because of the opaque nature of how this last phase of this election has been handled".
"Therefore, we cannot be a part of how this result is going to be announced," she says, underlining that they will take ownership of the result about to be announced at Bomas.
When pressed on for clarity, Cherera says they will reveal details of this "opaqueness" later. ____________________
5:23 pm | 'IEBC system was penetrated' - Azimio
Remember when Azimio's chief agent Saitabao Ole Kanchory caused a scene a couple of days ago inside the national tallying centre when he walked up to the 'high table' of the IBEC and declaring that "Bomas is a scene of crime"?
Well, today, he and other coalition members, including newly-elected Siaya senator James Orengo, have addressed the press at Bomas of Kenya, and claimed that they are not satisfied with the verification by the electoral commission.
"We have intelligence and reports that their system was penetrated and hacked and that some of the IEBC officials actually committed electoral offences and some of them ought to be arrested.
"I think you remember I had earlier stated that Bomas of Kenya was a crime scene." ____________________
5:07 pm
It's not clear what exactly is happening, but from the look of things, a lot is happening behind the scenes. There is a lot of movement inside and outside the national tallying centre - a number of exits. We have seen cars drive out of Bomas of Kenya.
Inside, the choir is attempting to lift the visibly weary faces inside the auditorium. Credit to the smartly dressed choir teams - they have kept this going for more than six hours now.
Nonetheless, there is a story behind these exits from the facility.. ____________________
4:52 pm
If you think this wait is stretching your patience to the absolute limit, spare a thought for those seated inside the auditorium of the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi. They have been there for over five hours now.
Some are already walking out. ____________________
4:30 pm
Residents stand next to a sign promoting peace as they wait for the results of the presidential election in Kibera, Nairobi.
Also in Kibera, residents sit next to a graffiti sign promoting peace.
Former deputy president of Kenya Kalonzo Musyoka, surrounded by Azimio's supporters, arrives at Bomas in Nairobi.
Supporters of Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga react while waiting for the results.
____________________
4:09 pm
It is a couple of minutes past 4pm and the wait continues. Meanwhile, the mother of deputy president and presidential candidate William Ruto, Sarah Cheruiyot, has arrived at the national tallying centre together with other family members. ____________________
4:00 pm
Kenyan Police officers wearing riot gear are standing on the side of the road near Bomas in Nairobi.
Here, Kenyan Police officers drive by in a truck as Azimio supporters gather outside the Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
Azimio supporters watch a live broadcast on a phone outside KICC.
Residents watch television while waiting for Kenya's general election results in Kibera, Nairobi.
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3:50 pm | Poll winner urged to be 'magnanimous'
It is approaching 4pm, nearly an hour after the early-communicated 3pm hour for the announcement of the presidential election result.
So as we wait for IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and his team to emerge, take a look at what Dr. Samuel Kobia, the chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), said earlier:
"We would like to call on the winner to be magnanimous and reach across the divide to make peace and forge a way forward. We ask for the runner-up to be dignified and be treated with decorum.
"This also applies to the citizens. Let us all be magnanimous and appreciate the pain we all feel when we lose. Let us not insult each other or glout unnecessarily over the others. We are all one in one nation called Kenya."
Good call, that! ____________________
3:31 pm
In Eldoret, rain or shine, they will not be deterred.
In Kisumu, will these vuvuzelas be needed later?
"What is the latest?"
____________________
3:01 pm | RUTO ARRIVES AT BOMAS
There is a dash outside.
Presidential candidate and current deputy president William Ruto has arrived at Bomas of Kenya. He is accompanied by his wife, Rachel.
That makes it three out of four presidential candidates at the national tallying centre. Only Raila Odinga has yet to appear. ____________________
2:51 pm | Both camps' supporters in early celebrations
Although the electoral commission has yet to announce the presidential vote final result, that is not stopping the supporters of the frontrunners from break into early jubilation. Surely the belief is high!
William Ruto's supporters . . .
Raila Odinga's supporters . . .
____________________
2:26 pm
And the choirs continue to entertain inside the national tallying centre auditorium, as the earlier-communicated magic hour - 3pm - fast-approaches.
And many inside - including international observers - are on their feet clapping and dancing along. The choirs are doing well to liven the mood inside here. ____________________
1:59 pm | Residents following closely
Outside of Nairobi, Kenyans in other parts of the country are remotely following the developments at the national tallying centre.
In Kisumu (western Kenya) - Odinga's stronghold - these residents have put everything on hold to follow television updates at an electronics shop.
It is a similar mood in Eldoret (Rift Valley region) - Ruto's stronghold - where these residents are keeping abreast of what is happening miles away off a giant screen.
____________________
1:42 pm | Chebukati to announce result at 3pm
Word coming in is that IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati is set to announce the much-awaited result at 3pm. ____________________
1:35 pm | ♫ ♪ Shalom Kenya! ♫ ♪
The various groups of people gathered inside the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya, including politicians and elecion observers, are being entertained with a medley of musical productions - most of them patriotic in nature - as they patiently wait for electoral commission chairperson Wafula Chebukati and his IEBC team to emerge.
Words like "tupendane" (let's love each other) and "tupende nchi yetu" (let's love our nation) are common in the songs.
Meanwhile, earlier, the chief agents of the presidential candidates were called in for a meeting - I think - with the IEBC officials. ____________________
12:54 pm | What if the 50% + 1 vote target is not hit?
As we wait with bated breath for the identity of Uhuru Kenyatta's successor, let me remind you that to win this very tight presidential contest, either William Ruto or Raila Odinga - the two favorites - needs to secure 50% plus one vote, plus at least a quarter of the votes in 24 of the 47 counties.
But what happens if neither candidate achieves this?
A run-off must be held within 30 days of August 9 (when the original poll was held). This has never happened before in Kenya. So if it does occur this year, it would enter the country's history books as a first.
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12:43 pm | RIVAL CAMPS READY FOR FINAL RESULT
Away from the national tallying centre, the two leading rival camps - Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja - are waiting for the final result to be announced.
Ruto's camp at the UDA Communication Centre at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi.
And Odinga's camp at Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) also in Nairobi.
____________________
12:36 pm
The clocking is ticking. Any time from now . . .
____________________
12:13 pm | Candidates Wajackoyah and Waihiga hug it out
The first presidential candidates to arrive at the national tallying centre are Roots Party's Prof. George Wajackoyah and Agano Party's David Mwaure Waihiga, who walk down the steps of the filled auditorium appearing in good spirits.
In a show of unity, the two hold hands, raise them, before embracing each other, drawing applause from the people inside the auditorium. Wajackoyah then goes up to greet the election observers.
Waihiga conceded defeat on Sunday while Wajackoyah applied some good-natured twist to the conclusion of this presidential race by insisting that he will win the presidency.
In truth though, the partial official results have consistently placed him firmly in third ahead of Waihiga. The frontrunners are Kenya Kwanza's William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja's Raila Odinga. ____________________
12:04 pm | Choir eases nerves inside auditorium
It is an atmosphere of ceremony, praise - and undoubted anxiety - inside the national tallying centre auditorium at Bomas of Kenya as the choir does well to ease nerves with joyful songs patriotism.
It is helping, as some people inside the vast room are seen wearing brave faces, with others joining in the dancing and ululation. But it is only they that know what is running inside their minds.
Meanwhile, more people are walking in.
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11:37 am | Final presidential vote result set to be announced
The clearest evidence so far that the final presidential poll result will be announced today comes when IEBC official Tabitha Mutemi announces seating arrangement, asking those already sat inside the national tallying centre auditorium to make room for where the presidential candidates' family and friends will sit. ____________________
11:20 am | A nation eagerly waits
So it all comes down to this.
Days of edge-of-the-seat, nail-biting and breath-holding waiting zero down to the announcement of the final result of the presidential vote. Very likely this is going be today. But please note that there is no official communication from the IEBC - Kenya's electoral commission - that the much-anticipated reveal will be made today.
Nonetheless, a nation eagerly waits.
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10:27 am | Ramped up security at Bomas of Kenya
Physically, there is a general sense of calm at the national tallying centre in Kenya's capital Nairobi amid heightened security, as the nation -and the rest of the world - virtually lock their eyes on the developments there.
It is only here that the next president of Kenya will be announced by the electoral commission. There is every ounce of indication to suggest that the long-awaited announcement will be made today. In fact, you could be having your lunch of ugali, chapatti and sukuma wiki when the president-elect has already been revealed.
A new dawn beckons.
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10:03 am | National tallying centre filling up
Meanwhile, the auditorium of the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi is getting filled by the minute. The central area, where the IEBC verification desks had attracted a bee-hive of activity in the last couple of days, has been cleared.
The seats around that area are getting occupied as more people walk in. These are very clear - and relieving - signs that the long wait is about to be over. ____________________
9:53 am | 'Let us have peace'
By AFP:
Both candidates - Raila Odinga and William Ruto - have pledged to maintain calm, with the memory of the 2007-08 and 2017 post-poll violence still fresh for many Kenyans.
"We have voted peacefully, we have gone through this process peacefully and it's my prayer that we end this process peacefully," Ruto, 55, said at a church service in Nairobi on Sunday.
Speaking at a separate service in the capital, Odinga, 77, recited the opening lines of the Peace Prayer of St Francis and said: "I want to become an instrument to bring peace, to heal, to unite and keep the hope alive in our country."
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9:46 am | May the best candidate win
William Ruto and Raila Odinga. One of these two men will become Kenya's fifth president. Question is, who will it be?
The final results will tell us.
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9:34 am
Meanwhile, last night (Sunday), worshippers of the Legio Maria Church participated in their annual overnight procession as the Assumption of Holy Mary in Kisumu in western Kenya.
This walks with a portrait of Mama Maria during the procession.
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9:21 am | 'The day of reckoning'
There is a growing sense of belief that IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati will announce the presidential result today, which, according to People Daily, is a 'The day of reckoning'.
The electoral commission has been chipping away on the seven days it is constitutionally allowed within which to work out the final presidential result, and the fruits of its round-the-clock verification exercise since polling ended on Tuesday last week is paying off.
As it stands, the results of 259 constituencies have been verified and announced by the commission. Thirty-two (32) to go!
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8:57 am | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 17: Here are more IEBC-verified results.
Kuria East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
12,031
William Ruto
16,795
David Waihiga
65
George Wajackoyah
144
Kitutu Chache Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
30,857
William Ruto
9,187
David Waihiga
57
George Wajackoyah
169
Baringo North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
923
William Ruto
37,635
David Waihiga
16
George Wajackoyah
56
Turbo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
25,927
William Ruto
51,068
David Waihiga
117
George Wajackoyah
166
Mwingi Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
33,082
William Ruto
10,749
David Waihiga
228
George Wajackoyah
439
Mvita Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
24,497
William Ruto
22,210
David Waihiga
78
George Wajackoyah
431
Rabai Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
18,631
William Ruto
9,705
David Waihiga
115
George Wajackoyah
290
____________________
8:30 am | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 16: Here are more IEBC-verified results.
Likoni Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
24,445
William Ruto
12,908
David Waihiga
47
George Wajackoyah
244
Turkana North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
15,318
William Ruto
10,675
David Waihiga
43
George Wajackoyah
53
Starehe Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
46,286
William Ruto
43,140
David Waihiga
341
George Wajackoyah
417
Dagoretti North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
56,535
William Ruto
25,764
David Waihiga
469
George Wajackoyah
436
Kajiado West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
29,716
William Ruto
28,272
David Waihiga
73
George Wajackoyah
143
Mathare Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
41,187
William Ruto
24,814
David Waihiga
95
George Wajackoyah
260
Bahati Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
18,666
William Ruto
44,797
David Waihiga
256
George Wajackoyah
291
Runyenjes Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,191
William Ruto
57,695
David Waihiga
104
George Wajackoyah
396
Ruaraka Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
58,481
William Ruto
15,182
David Waihiga
68
George Wajackoyah
159
Kuresoi South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
782
William Ruto
49,010
David Waihiga
24
George Wajackoyah
62
Manyatta Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,601
William Ruto
59,915
David Waihiga
163
George Wajackoyah
382
Butula Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
40,161
William Ruto
3,663
David Waihiga
65
George Wajackoyah
287
Mandera South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
17,034
William Ruto
7,263
David Waihiga
37
George Wajackoyah
126
Garsen Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
17,200
William Ruto
17,853
David Waihiga
43
George Wajackoyah
148
Kilgoris Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
26,430
William Ruto
30,604
David Waihiga
66
George Wajackoyah
105
Kuria West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
11,970
William Ruto
28,933
David Waihiga
108
George Wajackoyah
220
Wundanyi Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
16,847
William Ruto
4,303
David Waihiga
75
George Wajackoyah
238
Sigor Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
13,774
William Ruto
21,261
David Waihiga
55
George Wajackoyah
102
Dadaab Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
22,247
William Ruto
508
David Waihiga
12
George Wajackoyah
54
Awendo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
42,223
William Ruto
474
David Waihiga
12
George Wajackoyah
54
Kabete Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
15,662
William Ruto
44,129
David Waihiga
367
George Wajackoyah
425
Nyaribari Masaba Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
26,249
William Ruto
16,375
David Waihiga
114
George Wajackoyah
198
Makadara Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
43,353
William Ruto
30,138
David Waihiga
283
George Wajackoyah
332
Tarbaj Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,912
William Ruto
9,735
David Waihiga
51
George Wajackoyah
96
Kilifi South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
32,570
William Ruto
10,982
David Waihiga
111
George Wajackoyah
339
Bondo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
73,534
William Ruto
729
David Waihiga
21
George Wajackoyah
93
Taveta Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
21,034
William Ruto
6,689
David Waihiga
42
George Wajackoyah
138
Kaloleni Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
25,059
William Ruto
11,800
David Waihiga
175
George Wajackoyah
358
Wajir West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
15,045
William Ruto
6,369
David Waihiga
16
George Wajackoyah
57
Rangwe Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
42,308
William Ruto
319
David Waihiga
13
George Wajackoyah
90
Samburu West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
18,992
William Ruto
12,206
David Waihiga
28
George Wajackoyah
106
Samburu North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
14,598
William Ruto
7,015
David Waihiga
17
George Wajackoyah
63
______________________
7:26 am | Kenya eagerly awaits 'white smoke'
The Wafula Chebukati-led electoral commission has kept Kenyans and the watching world on the edge of their seats, as - constituency by constituency - it scutinizes the results from an election that was marked by low voter turnout on Tuesday, August 9.
The commission - or IEBC, if you prefer - has a seven-day window after the day of polling to collate the presidential results and announce the final outcome to the nation.
With this in mind, Chebukati and co have made sure to make full use of this constitutionally-given time to do enough verification before finally revealing the identity of departing President Uhuru Kenyatta's successor. On paper, it is four potential men, one of whom has already publicly conceded defeat. In reality, though, it is two men.
William Ruto, Kenyatta's friend-turned-foe deputy in one corner.
Raila Odinga, Kenyatta's foe-turned-friend in the other corner.
____________________
7:11 am | All eyes on IEBC - Kenya's electoral commission
Kenyans may have been encouraged to get back to their normal work today, but you can be sure theirs will be divided attention on their office desks and other duty stations. Instinctively, they will be looking out for updates from Bomas of Kenya, the home of the national tallying centre in the capital Nairobi.
This where IEBC officials are conducting round-the-clocking verification of the presidential results that have been physically brought in by IEBC returning officers from their respective constituency tallying centres around the country.
Pictured are police officers from the Administration Police taking a break following a shift changeover at the national allying centre at the Bomas of Kenya.
Police officers from the General Service Unit are maintaining security at the entrance to the auditorium where IEBC sits.
Police officers from the Administration Police having been manning the auditorium in shifts following savoury scenes inside involving party agents last week.
It is busy bees inside the national tallying centre.
An election observer walks among IEBC clerks as they verify the presidential results.
Police officers from the regular force are maintaining a security cordon around IEBC clerks.
____________________
7:00 am | GOOD MORNING - IT'S MONDAY!
Hello everyone, a brand-new week is here - and still, six days after Kenyans went to the ballot to elect their new president - plus other leaders - the identity of Uhuru Kenyatta's successor is not known. Yet. Is today the day?
After a weary week of waiting, many will be hoping that Kenya's electoral commission, IEBC, will wrap this up by the end of today by announcing the final result of what has been a tight presidential race.
Will get you the updates as they come in. Good morning! ____________________
8:30 pm | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 15: Here are more IEBC-verified results.
Diaspora Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
3,727
William Ruto
2,190
David Waihiga
31
George Wajackoyah
40
Buuri Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
7,167
William Ruto
46,451
David Waihiga
78
George Wajackoyah
206
Chesumei Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,942
William Ruto
49,707
David Waihiga
55
George Wajackoyah
101
Embakasi North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
35,573
William Ruto
33,401
David Waihiga
120
George Wajackoyah
160
Embakasi Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
42,580
William Ruto
39,412
David Waihiga
177
George Wajackoyah
279
Embakasi South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
53,838
William Ruto
28,121
David Waihiga
133
George Wajackoyah
292
Garissa Township Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
16,898
William Ruto
7,990
David Waihiga
17
George Wajackoyah
108
Galole Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
16,744
William Ruto
11,566
David Waihiga
109
George Wajackoyah
160
Gichugu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
9,175
William Ruto
56,018
David Waihiga
174
George Wajackoyah
351
Igembe South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
13,033
William Ruto
36,399
David Waihiga
111
George Wajackoyah
310
Isiolo South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
6,696
William Ruto
9,465
David Waihiga
12
George Wajackoyah
33
Kiambaa Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
18,879
William Ruto
48,357
David Waihiga
347
George Wajackoyah
381
Kieni Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
11,894
William Ruto
62,497
David Waihiga
199
George Wajackoyah
261
Kuresoi North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,363
William Ruto
40,542
David Waihiga
57
George Wajackoyah
85
Kibra Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
55,132
William Ruto
19,337
David Waihiga
200
George Wajackoyah
291
Lafey Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
9,473
William Ruto
2,690
David Waihiga
19
George Wajackoyah
61
Marakwet West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
1,290
William Ruto
44,439
David Waihiga
31
George Wajackoyah
47
Molo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
18,632
William Ruto
29,472
David Waihiga
132
George Wajackoyah
149
Mandera East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
18,324
William Ruto
7,315
David Waihiga
42
George Wajackoyah
141
Nyali Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
31,600
William Ruto
23,519
David Waihiga
108
George Wajackoyah
562
Rarieda Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
61,022
William Ruto
621
David Waihiga
40
George Wajackoyah
141
Rongai Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
13,799
William Ruto
42,530
David Waihiga
96
George Wajackoyah
134
Roysambu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
31,032
William Ruto
59,180
David Waihiga
403
George Wajackoyah
407
Sabatia Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
19,743
William Ruto
22,087
David Waihiga
126
George Wajackoyah
330
Saboti Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
27,269
William Ruto
26,382
David Waihiga
80
George Wajackoyah
196
Suna West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
42,436
William Ruto
701
David Waihiga
16
George Wajackoyah
57
Suna East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
38,389
William Ruto
2,128
David Waihiga
27
George Wajackoyah
74
Thika Town Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
29,954
William Ruto
60728
David Waihiga
409
George Wajackoyah
436
Uriri Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
47,249
William Ruto
2,458
David Waihiga
32
George Wajackoyah
126
Voi Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
23,014
William Ruto
12,140
David Waihiga
78
George Wajackoyah
257
Wajir South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
19,886
William Ruto
14,786
David Waihiga
44
George Wajackoyah
163
Mwatate Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
20,376
William Ruto
6,010
David Waihiga
54
George Wajackoyah
193
____________________
3:35 pm | William Ruto leading - early results
By AFP:
Deputy President William Ruto is edging ahead of his main rival Raila Odinga in Kenya's presidential election, partial official results showed Sunday, underscoring the tight race as the country anxiously awaits the final outcome.
Ruto scored 51.25 percent of the vote, reversing earlier gains for Odinga, who had 48.09 percent, according to figures from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which has tallied results from nearly 50 percent of constituencies.
Tuesday's vote passed off largely peacefully but with previous elections sparking violence and rigging claims, the IEBC is under intense pressure to deliver a clean poll and release results by Tuesday.
Riot police were deployed overnight inside the commission's heavily-guarded tallying centre in the Kenyan capital Nairobi after political party agents disrupted the process, hurling rigging allegations at each other.
The commission's chairman Wafula Chebukati on Friday accused party agents of delaying the tallying process by haranguing election workers with unnecessary questions.
The wait has left Kenyans weary, with many hoping that any disputes over the result are addressed peacefully through legal means.
The poll pitted Odinga, a veteran opposition leader now backed by the ruling party, against Ruto, who was widely expected to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta until his boss joined hands with former foe Odinga in a dramatic shift of political allegiances.
The election is being closely watched by an international community that views Kenya as a pillar of stability in a volatile region, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken describing the country's polls "as a model for the continent".
"We encourage peace and patience as the vote tallying continues from the August 9 elections," Blinken said on Twitter late Saturday.
Authorities in the East African nation have been struggling to get the economy back on its feet, after the twin shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which sent food and fuel costs spiralling.
The economy has been a key theme throughout the campaign, with many citizens calling on leaders to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
Turnout was about 65 percent, much lower than the 78 percent recorded in 2017, a reflection, some observers say, of the disenchantment with the political elite, particularly among young people.
The winner of the presidential race needs to secure 50 percent plus one vote and at least a quarter of the votes in 24 of Kenya's 47 counties.
If not, the country will be forced to hold a runoff within 30 days of the original vote.
Both frontrunners have pledged to ensure calm after the outcome is known, with Kenyans still haunted by the deadly violence that followed the 2017 and 2007 polls. ____________________
3:23 pm | CANDIDATE WAIHIGA CONCEDES DEFEAT
Presidential candidate David Mwaure Waihiga has conceded defeat. The verified results that have been announced thus far by Kenya's electoral commisison have shown that Waihiga is trailing - in fourth - in a four-man race. ____________________
2:43 pm | Results of more verified constituencies announced
SET 14: Here are more IEBC-verified results.
Kiharu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
13,114
William Ruto
69,939
David Waihiga
283
George Wajackoyah
383
Sirisia Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
11,882
William Ruto
17,275
David Waihiga
120
George Wajackoyah
166
Igembe North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
12,079
William Ruto
35,517
David Waihiga
111
George Wajackoyah
278
Ainamoi Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,720
William Ruto
56,781
David Waihiga
49
George Wajackoyah
96
Mbere South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
14,010
William Ruto
36,371
David Waihiga
139
George Wajackoyah
304
Bobasi Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
50,242
William Ruto
16,862
David Waihiga
116
George Wajackoyah
275
Mwea Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
12,884
William Ruto
75,028
David Waihiga
186
George Wajackoyah
489
Cherangany Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
27,314
William Ruto
35,053
David Waihiga
89
George Wajackoyah
164
Chuka Igambang'ombe Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,249
William Ruto
53,038
David Waihiga
173
George Wajackoyah
346
____________________
2:38 pm | Results of more verified constituencies announced
SET 14: Here more IEBC-verified results.
Nyatike Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
54,894
William Ruto
458
David Waihiga
17
George Wajackoyah
74
Jomvu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
20,863
William Ruto
13,962
David Waihiga
51
George Wajackoyah
227
Webuye West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
10,928
William Ruto
25,057
David Waihiga
251
George Wajackoyah
228
Dagoretti South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
26,947
William Ruto
40,120
David Waihiga
230
George Wajackoyah
328
Kajiado South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
23,731
William Ruto
27,376
David Waihiga
47
George Wajackoyah
82
Laikipia East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
13,335
William Ruto
48,792
David Waihiga
168
George Wajackoyah
262
Changamwe Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
24,237
William Ruto
19,098
David Waihiga
73
George Wajackoyah
186
Kajiado North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
35,868
William Ruto
41,723
David Waihiga
396
George Wajackoyah
364
Turkana West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
17,258
William Ruto
9,298
David Waihiga
43
George Wajackoyah
85
Dagoretti North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
56,535
William Ruto
25,764
David Waihiga
469
George Wajackoyah
436
Teso South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
40,712
William Ruto
6,071
David Waihiga
80
George Wajackoyah
163
Kamukunji Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
35,552
William Ruto
25,830
David Waihiga
99
George Wajackoyah
253
Mount Elgon Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,647
William Ruto
48,659
David Waihiga
148
George Wajackoyah
149
Limuru Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
14,500
William Ruto
46,059
David Waihiga
300
George Wajackoyah
318
Turkana Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
18,847
William Ruto
14,089
David Waihiga
82
George Wajackoyah
131
Turkana East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
11,083
William Ruto
1,347
David Waihiga
19
George Wajackoyah
49
Lamu West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
16,596
William Ruto
18,237
David Waihiga
138
George Wajackoyah
396
Westlands Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
55,088
William Ruto
28,232
David Waihiga
332
George Wajackoyah
493
Kitui Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
29,069
William Ruto
16,820
David Waihiga
144
George Wajackoyah
283
Juja Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
32,197
William Ruto
62,208
David Waihiga
353
George Wajackoyah
498
Gatundu North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,745
William Ruto
40,310
David Waihiga
136
George Wajackoyah
203
Kilome Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
28,166
William Ruto
7,023
David Waihiga
83
George Wajackoyah
233
Kisauni Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
35,190
William Ruto
21,877
David Waihiga
125
George Wajackoyah
451
Bomet East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
1,769
William Ruto
47,987
David Waihiga
38
George Wajackoyah
117
Embakasi West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
45,546
William Ruto
34,950
David Waihiga
290
George Wajackoyah
426
Bonchari Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
29,198
William Ruto
12,706
David Waihiga
81
George Wajackoyah
165
Kesses Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,966
William Ruto
45,653
David Waihiga
61
George Wajackoyah
88
Laisamis Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
4,161
William Ruto
18,776
David Waihiga
35
George Wajackoyah
62
Rongo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
44,944
William Ruto
578
David Waihiga
20
George Wajackoyah
57
Tigania West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,824
William Ruto
36,454
David Waihiga
112
George Wajackoyah
310
____________________
11:37 am | 'Hustlers are counting on you'
Twenty-four hours ago, Odinga's main challenger UDA's William Ruto - the current deputy president - took to social media to congratulate all election winners thus far, more so female candidates that have reigned supreme in their respective polls.
Meanwhile, presidential candidate Raila Odinga makes a first public appearance since Tuesday, as he attends service at ACK St. Francis Church in Karen in Kenya's capital Nairobi.
Accompanying him are fellow Azimio members, including his running mate Martha Karua, and Wiper party leader and former deputy-president Kalonzo Musyoka. Also around is former First Son Gideon Moi, who this week lost his Baringo senator seat to William Cheptumo.
Former prime minister Odinga, who is welcomed at the church by religious leaders, appears to be in good spirits.
____________________
10:40 am | President Kenyatta meets AU/COMESA observers
On Saturday, Kenya's State House reported that departing President Uhuru Kenyatta - who has reached his two-term limit - hosted a team of AU/ COMESA election observation teams at State House in Nairobi.
Led by former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma, the group is reported to have told Kenyatta - Kenya's fourth president - that the electoral process has been relatively transparent and that all the observers have issued positive reports.
State House said the election observers underlined that they have learnt a lot from the elections in Kenya and that they will share the good example of real democracy, institutional credibility and upholding the rule of law to build the “Africa we want”.
____________________
9:37 am | Religious leaders call for peace and calm
In case you are wondering, there is no update - yet - from Bomas of Kenya, where the national tallying centre is based, and where the presidential results numbers are being crunched by a group of busy bees, as the critical deadline looms large. But be sure to have one in not long from now.
As we wait for developments from IEBC, take a look at what the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya - a coalition of all major faith communities in the country - is telling Kenyans in a statement released by the group's chairman, Rev. Fr. Joseph Mutie.
Here is their call:
We have all played our democratic and constitutional right by voting on August 9. We commend all Kenyans for turning out and voting peacefully. Now that the voting phase is complete, we urge you to remain calm and patient as the tallying of votes goes on.
We are aware the process of tallying and eventual announcement of results will take time considering the legal and operation framework that guide the process. We appeal to all Kenyans to remain patient as the IEBC fulfils its mandate as per the existing laws.
We also ask our fellow Kenyans to source information from credible sources and avoid overreliance on unauthenticated information on social media and other platforms. We encourage you not to share unverified information because it raises unnecessary tension.
We commit our beloved country in the hands of God and we pray for peace, cohesion and harmony during this election period and beyond. We also appeal to all members of the clergy and the faithful to hold special prayers for peace in their places of worship.
____________________
8:19 am | 141 out of 291 constituencies verified
As of now, the IEBC has verified the presidential results from 141 out of 291 (including the one collective diaspora constituency) constituencies. A little over a half of that many constituencies to go. It's a race against the clock.
Here is SET 14:
Keminini Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
34,863
William Ruto
20,924
David Waihiga
113
George Wajackoyah
264
Moyale Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
20,595
William Ruto
23,768
David Waihiga
69
George Wajackoyah
113
Suba South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
40,475
William Ruto
449
David Waihiga
11
George Wajackoyah
53
Kandara Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
11,118
William Ruto
58,612
David Waihiga
255
George Wajackoyah
305
Mathira Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
9,328
William Ruto
63,715
David Waihiga
139
George Wajackoyah
257
Kirinyaga Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,978
William Ruto
48,645
David Waihiga
129
George Wajackoyah
295
Sotik Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
2,417
William Ruto
66,866
David Waihiga
51
George Wajackoyah
109
Lugari Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
36,606
William Ruto
15,125
David Waihiga
134
George Wajackoyah
294
Kitui South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
34,267
William Ruto
11,746
David Waihiga
182
George Wajackoyah
527
Nyaribari Chache Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
32,216
William Ruto
21,366
David Waihiga
-
George Wajackoyah
259
____________________
7:30 am | Verification of results continues at national tallying centre
SET 13:More IEBC-verified results:
Tinderet Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
923
William Ruto
39,967
David Waihiga
23
George Wajackoyah
42
Kuresoi South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
782
William Ruto
49,010
David Waihiga
24
George Wajackoyah
62
Tiaty Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
25,282
William Ruto
5,708
David Waihiga
30
George Wajackoyah
105
Hamisi Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
31,130
William Ruto
14,589
David Waihiga
86
George Wajackoyah
286
Naivasha Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
36,487
William Ruto
61,915
David Waihiga
283
George Wajackoyah
429
Kapseret Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
14,900
William Ruto
35,218
David Waihiga
60
George Wajackoyah
92
Nakuru Town Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
34,223
William Ruto
40,942
David Waihiga
302
George Wajackoyah
382
Emgwen Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
7,602
William Ruto
41,086
David Waihiga
57
George Wajackoyah
87
Masinga Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
33,981
William Ruto
9,031
David Waihiga
113
George Wajackoyah
238
Lunga-Lunga Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
22,938
William Ruto
10,345
David Waihiga
98
George Wajackoyah
190
____________________
7:14 am | Verification of results continues at national tallying centre
SET 12 of IEBC-verified results:
Konoin Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
2,164
William Ruto
56,262
David Waihiga
36
George Wajackoyah
98
Othaya Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
7,145
William Ruto
35,972
David Waihiga
143
George Wajackoyah
198
Lari Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
9,162
William Ruto
47,315
David Waihiga
170
George Wajackoyah
209
Soy Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
10,824
William Ruto
55,903
David Waihiga
49
George Wajackoyah
107
Subukia Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,301
William Ruto
28,772
David Waihiga
101
George Wajackoyah
149
Mwala Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
42,286
William Ruto
13,267
David Waihiga
113
George Wajackoyah
411
Chepalungu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,009
William Ruto
58,827
David Waihiga
54
George Wajackoyah
142
Ganze Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
30,422
William Ruto
6,985
David Waihiga
194
George Wajackoyah
383
Njoro Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
28,954
William Ruto
44,747
David Waihiga
203
George Wajackoyah
271
Saku Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
7,759
William Ruto
13,198
David Waihiga
11
George Wajackoyah
62
____________________
6:56 am
People have been turning to media outlets to keep abreast of developments.
____________________
6:37 am | Chebukati & co racing against time
It is a race against time for IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and his team to deliver the outcome of the presidential result. And they have had to burn the midnight oil to keep up with the looming deadline.
Here is SET 11 of IEBC-verified results:
Balambala Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,714
William Ruto
7,854
David Waihiga
12
George Wajackoyah
72
Bomachoge Burabu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
23,778
William Ruto
12,094
David Waihiga
51
George Wajackoyah
137
North Mugirango Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
23,434
William Ruto
18,965
David Waihiga
66
George Wajackoyah
166
Kabuchai Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
10,796
William Ruto
32,216
David Waihiga
192
George Wajackoyah
271
Bureti Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
1,426
William Ruto
76,331
David Waihiga
40
George Wajackoyah
97
Kimilili Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
14,140
William Ruto
22,939
David Waihiga
130
George Wajackoyah
233
Kinango Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
36,159
William Ruto
17,398
David Waihiga
145
George Wajackoyah
283
Tetu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,979
William Ruto
31,791
David Waihiga
130
George Wajackoyah
172
North Imenti Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
9,680
William Ruto
51,696
David Waihiga
101
George Wajackoyah
262
South Imenti Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
9,674
William Ruto
69,194
David Waihiga
143
George Wajackoyah
437
____________________
6:00 am | GOOD MORNING - IT'S SUNDAY!
Hello everyone. We are still on the marathon.
Tuesday seems like was a long time ago, right? Well, not quite, realistically - it is the long, eager wait that is perhaps making you think it's been eons since votes descended on those ballot boxes five days ago.
Kenya's electoral commission, the IEBC, which is led by Wafula Chebukati, is left with today and tomorrow (Monday) to announce the final result of the August 9 presidential vote, as per the law of the land.
____________________
10:30 pm | Verification of results continues at national tallying centre
SET 10:More IEBC-verified results:
Keiyo South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
1,257
William Ruto
37,280
David Waihiga
30
George Wajackoyah
32
Ikolomani Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
24,437
William Ruto
8,807
David Waihiga
52
George Wajackoyah
190
Ijara Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
18,214
William Ruto
1,367
David Waihiga
07
George Wajackoyah
56
Bomet Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
2,024
William Ruto
55,486
David Waihiga
55
George Wajackoyah
105
Mathioya Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
6,293
William Ruto
32,313
David Waihiga
149
George Wajackoyah
214
Kisumu West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
57,730
William Ruto
1,238
David Waihiga
42
George Wajackoyah
139
Laikipia North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
14,630
William Ruto
13,157
David Waihiga
42
George Wajackoyah
82
Narok East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
23,686
William Ruto
12,164
David Waihiga
28
George Wajackoyah
45
Langata Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
51,223
William Ruto
27,871
David Waihiga
534
George Wajackoyah
528
Kipipiri Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
7,817
William Ruto
28,899
David Waihiga
139
George Wajackoyah
181
____________________
7:30 pm | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 9:More IEBC-verified results:
Mogotio Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
982
William Ruto
30,824
David Waihiga
34
George Wajackoyah
49
Kajiado Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
28,468
William Ruto
22,605
David Waihiga
50
George Wajackoyah
108
Kangema Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,456
William Ruto
29,242
David Waihiga
137
George Wajackoyah
130
Mwingi West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
26,470
William Ruto
8,855
David Waihiga
162
George Wajackoyah
302
West Mugirango Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
35,663
William Ruto
20,831
David Waihiga
92
George Wajackoyah
236
Navakholo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
24,690
William Ruto
14,649
David Waihiga
123
George Wajackoyah
267
Shinyalu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
32,367
William Ruto
10,802
David Waihiga
93
George Wajackoyah
240
Mbeere North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
3,407
William Ruto
34,000
David Waihiga
117
George Wajackoyah
253
Matungu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
35,136
William Ruto
12,010
David Waihiga
124
George Wajackoyah
608
Kigumo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
11,160
William Ruto
45,964
David Waihiga
219
George Wajackoyah
28
____________________
7:26 pm | PICTURED 📸
Kenyans and people in other parts of the world are keenly following the August 9 general election developments.
The presidential race is very closely contested between the two frontrunners: deputy president William Ruto and former prime minister Raila Odinga.
The supporters of both camps are eager for victory for their respective candidate.
____________________
6:04 pm | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 8:More IEBC-verified results:
Embakasi East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
53,982
William Ruto
30,976
David Waihiga
271
George Wajackoyah
388
Igembe Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
13,343
William Ruto
45,497
David Waihiga
165
George Wajackoyah
294
Kisumu Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
79,955
William Ruto
4,458
David Waihiga
60
George Wajackoyah
210
Kibwezi West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
40,909
William Ruto
12,635
David Waihiga
102
George Wajackoyah
294
Ol Kalou Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
11,202
William Ruto
35,690
David Waihiga
187
George Wajackoyah
232
Mukurweini Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
5,514
William Ruto
34,322
David Waihiga
132
George Wajackoyah
163
Matungulu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
33,270
William Ruto
11,991
David Waihiga
146
George Wajackoyah
346
Kipkelion West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
1,767
William Ruto
40,056
David Waihiga
29
George Wajackoyah
51
Belgut Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
2,140
William Ruto
55,631
David Waihiga
30
George Wajackoyah
76
Emuhaya Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
21,531
William Ruto
9,240
David Waihiga
304
George Wajackoyah
104
____________________
3:24 pm | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
At Karen, Kenyan religious leaders are addressing a press conference on the elections.
They commend all Kenyans for the manner in which they participated in the election "to ensure that the country has remained peaceful".
Their call to Kenyans is that they should "not allow anxiety to build in the nation and none should incite violence".
On the candidates who have been gracious enough to concede defeat, the religious leaders say their reaction is "a beacon of hope that our democracy has matured".
Their call to Kenyans is to "maintain peace, exercise patience and communicate truth to one another". ____________________
1:47 pm | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
In her speech at KICC, Odinga's running mate Martha Karua tells Azimio la Moja alliance members to "let your mind recharge because we have got more work to do".
She also speaks of the coalition's gains in this election, saying: "We have strength around the country."
"We have a lot of work to ensure that the people we serve get the benefit of the taxes they pay," says the 64-year-old politician.
She rallies coalition members to work towards emphasizing a "one nation", and "that's what we stand for".
Karua also goes on to heap praises on the alliance leader, Raila Odinga.
"Our captain is a man who is a very generous man....a person who does not carry grudges. He embraces all and focuses his energies on what is good for the nation."
Telling Azimio leaders that "we have reform work to do", Karua consoles fellow alliance candidates who lost in their respective elections by saying that where there is a shortage of a coat of blue (coalition colour), "we have enough paint in our hearts". ____________________
12:54 pm | 'It is a matter of time' - Azimio's Musyoka
At KICC, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka starts off by rocking to Bob Marley and the Wailers' Buffalo Soldier classic together with other leaders on the stage during the Azimio la Moja alliance conference in Nairobi.
"It is a matter of time," says Musyoka, making reference to the anticipated announcement by the electoral commission, IEBC, of the final presidential result.
He says they are meeting to calm jitters "because the country was getting nervous. Now the country can see the true leaders".
"We know that justice is going to be done," says the 68-year-old former vice-president.
"I know from where I stand, that this country is going to remain peaceful after the announcement [of the final result]. I want to congratulate fellow Kenyans for remaining solid...We have to remember that we are all Kenyans."
Musyoka, who deputized Mwai Kibaki from 2008 until 2013, adds: "Nobody should be allowed to mess up with our motherland. The continent has been watching. The whole continent has been standing with the whole of Kenya."
He also says that they are congratulating "our brother President Uhuru Kenyatta for showing true statesmanship."
This was a terrible trial period. ____________________
12:30 pm | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 5:More IEBC-verified results:
Butere Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
34,044
William Ruto
6,202
David Waihiga
98
George Wajackoyah
327
Luanda Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
25,170
William Ruto
9,085
David Waihiga
115
George Wajackoyah
319
Tongaren Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
24,890
William Ruto
25,845
David Waihiga
213
George Wajackoyah
315
Bonchari Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
29,198
William Ruto
12,706
David Waihiga
81
George Wajackoyah
165
Laikipia West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
20,943
William Ruto
57,192
David Waihiga
222
George Wajackoyah
258
Maara Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
4,902
William Ruto
45,182
David Waihiga
134
George Wajackoyah
275
Ugenya Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
47,252
William Ruto
842
David Waihiga
49
George Wajackoyah
103
Kitui Rural Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
24,669
William Ruto
7,845
David Waihiga
117
George Wajackoyah
190
Lurambi Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
36,143
William Ruto
14,492
David Waihiga
101
George Wajackoyah
266
Bomachoge Chache Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
23,390
William Ruto
9,254
David Waihiga
50
George Wajackoyah
95
____________________
11:26 am | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 4:More IEBC-verified results:
Funyula Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
29,827
William Ruto
7,163
David Waihiga
83
George Wajackoyah
240
Khwisero Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
27,597
William Ruto
5,205
David Waihiga
76
George Wajackoyah
245
Vihiga Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
17,140
William Ruto
12,432
David Waihiga
84
George Wajackoyah
233
Kasipul Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
48,177
William Ruto
404
David Waihiga
26
George Wajackoyah
92
Kitutu Masaba Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
45,266
William Ruto
23,849
David Waihiga
127
George Wajackoyah
285
Nyando Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
60,040
William Ruto
394
David Waihiga
24
George Wajackoyah
67
Makueni Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
48,557
William Ruto
12,341
David Waihiga
90
George Wajackoyah
402
Kitui West Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
27,673
William Ruto
8,363
David Waihiga
143
George Wajackoyah
303
Seme Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
46,088
William Ruto
257
David Waihiga
20
George Wajackoyah
59
Kiambu Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
14,860
William Ruto
51,050
David Waihiga
318
George Wajackoyah
318
____________________
10:58 am | Azimio leaders convene at KICC
The Azimio la Moja alliance leaders are convening at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi for what some of them are calling a "winners conference". The coalition's presidential candidate Raila Odinga's running mate Martha Karua is preent.
"We are going to be setting our agenda," one says.
"Kenyans have exercised their sacred responsibility of electing their next leaders," another says.
Supporters of Raila Odinga are cheering outside KICC.
____________________
10:26 am | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 3: More IEBC-verified results:
Isiolo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
27,997
William Ruto
5,205
David Waihiga
76
George Wajackoyah
245
Teso North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
32,176
William Ruto
6,760
David Waihiga
85
George Wajackoyah
311
Gilgil Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
20,997
William Ruto
39,225
David Waihiga
246
George Wajackoyah
275
Ugunja Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
40,540
William Ruto
517
David Waihiga
17
George Wajackoyah
88
Muhoroni Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
56,714
William Ruto
2,025
David Waihiga
34
George Wajackoyah
77
Gatanga Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
15,104
William Ruto
53,377
David Waihiga
271
George Wajackoyah
324
Aldai Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
6,919
William Ruto
51,402
David Waihiga
60
George Wajackoyah
125
Kasarani Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
35,027
William Ruto
55,300
David Waihiga
339
George Wajackoyah
360
Kisumu East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
63,475
William Ruto
1,328
David Waihiga
46
George Wajackoyah
113
Gem Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
63,428
William Ruto
702
David Waihiga
41
George Wajackoyah
143
____________________
9:50 am | Verification of results continues at Bomas of Kenya
SET 2: More IEBC-verified results:
Ol Jororok Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
7,579
William Ruto
31,982
David Waihiga
140
George Wajackoyah
166
Gatundu South Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
12,290
William Ruto
41,712
David Waihiga
223
George Wajackoyah
311
Ndia Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
6,872
William Ruto
41,293
David Waihiga
151
George Wajackoyah
232
Nandi Hills Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
3,471
William Ruto
38,308
David Waihiga
40
George Wajackoyah
45
Kaiti Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
33,617
William Ruto
7,659
David Waihiga
95
George Wajackoyah
272
Kipkelion East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
3,303
William Ruto
43,898
David Waihiga
33
George Wajackoyah
43
Mwingi North Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
31,655
William Ruto
11,508
David Waihiga
230
George Wajackoyah
424
Ndhiwa Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
70,311
William Ruto
460
David Waihiga
29
George Wajackoyah
123
Mbooni Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
50,634
William Ruto
9,724
David Waihiga
125
George Wajackoyah
363
Emurua Dikirr Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
501
William Ruto
35,186
David Waihiga
30
George Wajackoyah
36
____________________
9:30 am | Verification of results continues
SET 1:Here are some of the IEBC-verified results:
Mumias East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
19,467
William Ruto
10,839
David Waihiga
67
George Wajackoyah
235
Endebess Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
13,954
William Ruto
18,255
David Waihiga
50
George Wajackoyah
78
Ainabkoi Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
8,620
William Ruto
35,401
David Waihiga
51
George Wajackoyah
90
Kathiani Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
30,984
William Ruto
6,624
David Waihiga
91
George Wajackoyah
300
Kangundo Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
29,808
William Ruto
8,405
David Waihiga
93
George Wajackoyah
365
Yatta Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
38,225
William Ruto
10,391
David Waihiga
121
George Wajackoyah
325
Moiben Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
6,772
William Ruto
49,625
David Waihiga
54
George Wajackoyah
51
Webuye East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
13,720
William Ruto
16,412
David Waihiga
110
George Wajackoyah
249
Lamu East Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
9,564
William Ruto
4,639
David Waihiga
48
George Wajackoyah
452
Baringo Central Constituency
Votes
Raila Odinga
1,656
William Ruto
33,162
David Waihiga
26
George Wajackoyah
62
____________________
8:41 am | Countering disinformation and misinformation
Concerns have been raised by different stakeholders, including election observation teams, over the spreading of false and misleading information on this Kenyan election, mostly on social media platforms.
There have also been efforts to counter this flow of disinformation and misinformation.
____________________
7:35 am | Constituency results: 49 verified, 242 to go!
As mentioned earlier, the IEBC is busy doing physical verification of the presidential results at the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya, which is necessitating round-the-clock working.
Wafula Chebukati and his team know they have until Tuesday to announce the winner of what is a close battle between UDA's William Ruto - the current deputy president - and former prime minister Raila Odinga of Azimio.
So far, the IEBC has announced to the public verified results from 49 constituencies. Altogether there are 291 contituencies (including the collective 12-nation diaspora constituency).
So, yep, you can do the maths . . .
____________________
7:18 am | IEBC 'concerned' about returning officer's disappearance
In case you are just joining us, there have been a number of developments as the anxious wait for the final presidential result drags on. One of the updates is an unfortunate development of a missing IEBC returning officer - Daniel Musyoka of Embakasi East constituency, to be precise.
What happened - according to the commission's chairman, Wafula Chebukati - is that Musyoka disappeared from the East African School of Aviation tallying centre in Embakasi on Thursday morning.
Speaking at the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on Friday, Chebukati said Musyoka "has been reported missing while on duty" at the school of aviation.
"Reports received by the commission indicate that at around 9am on August 11, 2022, his bodyguard escorted him from his house to the East African School of Aviation tallying centre. At around 9:45am, Mr Musyoka excused himself to receive a telephone call, but he did not return," said the IEBC chairperson.
"Mr Musyoka's family and the commission have been trying to reach him without success. His duties are now being handled by the deputy returning officer."
Chebukati (pictured below) told reporters that a report has since been made at the Embakasi Police Station.
"The commission is deeply concerned about the unfortunate incident and calls upon the relevant security agencies to speedily investigate the matter."
____________________
7:00 am | SATURDAY IS HERE! GOOD MORNING
It's crunch time, ladies and gentlemen. Wherever you are reading this from, you can sense the mounting anxiety over the identity of the candidate that will emerge as the winner of this year's tightly-contested Kenyan presidential election.
Welcome to our continued text and photo commentary of this presidential election that is getting many on the edge of their seats. On Tuesday, Kenyans voted for a new president, governors, senators, MPs, woman representatives and county officials. Our focus here, though, is on the biggest one of them all.
Will it be first-timer William Ruto? Or will serial presidential candidate Raila Odinga finally take the day after four unsuccessful bids in past editions?
All eyes are on the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi, where the East African nation's electoral commission, IEBC, is currently doing physical verification of results from the country's 291 constituencies. Some of the results have already been announced. But those can only tell a fraction of the story.
More results are coming. Good morning!
____________________
11:38 pm
The announcement by the IEBC of the verified results at the national tallying centre in Nairobi is gaining momentum.
This will have been a welcome development for a nation that continues to eagerly wait for the final result, including these boda boda riders seen earlier in the day on Friday in Kisumu watching live news on television for updates on the presidential election.
____________________
11:27 pm | PICTURED 📸
On Friday, members of Evangelism Harvest Fellowship Church pray during their special prayer for the nation's peace as people wait for the result of the presidential election in Kisumu.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati reveals of the commission's Embakasi East returning officer, Daniel Musyoka, went missing on Thursday and has not resurfaced since then.
Chebukati says Musyoka was escorted by his bodyguard from his home to the East African School of Aviation, the tallying centre for Embakasi. He reportedly excused them after 9am Thursday and did not return. He has not been seen yet.
The IEBC chairperson says that as a commission, they are "deeply concerned about this unfortunate incident" and urged the relevant authorities to "speedily" address the matter.
Meanwhile, the IEBC announced more verified results just before that unfortunate announced. As at now (10:50pm), the results from 33 constituencies (out of 291) have been verified. ____________________
8:46 pm | From 46,229 forms to one form
Take a look at how the presidential results form transitions from the polling station until to the very end user: the presidential candidate.
(Source: IEBC) ____________________
7:04 pm | 16 constituencies: Ruto leads in official results
The Makueni constituency official results place Ruto still firmly ahead on 393,360accumulated votes while Odinga's tally moves up to 286,693 votes.
Makueni constituency (Makueni county) Raila Odinga - 48,557 William Ruto - 12,341 David Waihiga - 90 George Wajackoyah - 402 ____________________
6:15 pm | 15 constituencies: Ruto leads in IEBC-verified results
Good evening everyone. The Kenyan electoral commission (IEBC) is busy doing physical verification of the August 9 presidential election results - a very rigorous activity - at the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.
So far, the IEBC has announced verified results from 15 out of 291 constituencies(including the collective diaspora constituency).
From these verified results, UDA's William Ruto is leading on 381,019 votes, followed by Azimio's Raila Odinga (238,136), Roots' Prof. George Wajackoyah (3,387) and Agano's David Mwaure Waihiga (1,506).
The results are from these constituencies: Machakos (3), Uasin Gishu (2), Bungoma (1), Lamu (1), Baringo (1), Nyandarua (1), Kiambu (1), Kirinyaga (1), Nandi (1), Makueni (1), Kericho (1), Kitui (1)
Below are the details of the number of votes for each candidate per constituency: ______________
Kathiani constituency (Machakos county) Raila Odinga - 30,984 William Ruto - 6,624 David Waihiga - 91 George Wajackoyah - 300
Kangundo constituency (Machakos county) Raila Odinga - 29,808 William Ruto - 8,405 David Waihiga - 93 George Wajackoyah - 365
Yatta constituency (Machakos county) Raila Odinga - 38,225 William Ruto - 10,391 David Waihiga - 121 George Wajackoyah - 325
Ainabkoi constituency (Uasin Gishu county) Raila Odinga - 8,620 William Ruto - 35,401 David Waihiga - 51 George Wajackoyah - 90
Moiben constituency (Uasin Gishu county) Raila Odinga - 6,772 William Ruto - 49,625 David Waihiga - 54 George Wajackoyah - 51
Webuye East constituency (Bungoma county) Raila Odinga - 13,720 William Ruto - 16,412 David Waihiga - 110 George Wajackoyah - 249
Lamu East constituency (Lamu county) Raila Odinga - 9,564 William Ruto - 4,639 David Waihiga - 48 George Wajackoyah - 452
Baringo Central constituency (Baringo county) Raila Odinga - 1,656 William Ruto - 33,162 David Waihiga - 26 George Wajackoyah - 62
Ol Jorok constituency (Nyandarua county) Raila Odinga - 7,579 William Ruto - 31,982 David Waihiga - 140 George Wajackoyah - 166
Gatundu South constituency (Kiambu county) Raila Odinga - 12,290 William Ruto - 41,712 David Waihiga - 223 George Wajackoyah - 311
Ndia constituency (Kirinyaga county) Raila Odinga - 6,872 William Ruto - 41,293 David Waihiga - 151 George Wajackoyah - 232
Nandi Hills constituency (Nandi county) Raila Odinga - 3,471 William Ruto - 38,308 David Waihiga - 40 George Wajackoyah - 45
Kaiti constituency (Makueni county) Raila Odinga - 33,617 William Ruto - 7,659 David Waihiga - 95 George Wajackoyah - 272
Kipkelion East constituency (Kericho county) Raila Odinga - 3,303 William Ruto - 43,898 David Waihiga - 33 George Wajackoyah - 43
Mwingi North constituency (Kitui county) Raila Odinga - 31,655 William Ruto - 11,508 David Waihiga - 230 George Wajackoyah - 424 ____________________
3:28 pm | Ruto meets AU-COMESA poll observers
Presidential candidate William Ruto has tweeted for the first time since election day. In his tweet today, the UDA frontrunner says he has met with the AU-COMESA election observation team, who have "congratulated Kenya and voters for a peaceful election".
In his message earlier on polling day, Ruto, 55, said he had voted and urged Kenyans to go out and vote because "your vote counts".
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3:12 pm | Up and about
Supporters of Raila Odinga gather and discuss on the presidential election as they anticipate the result at a newsstand in Kisumu.
Street vendors wait for customers in Kisumu.
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2:44 pm | Kenya's transition committee meets
Kenya's head of public service Joseph Kinywa held a press briefing earlier today to inform the nation that he had chaired the inaugural meeting of the Assumption of the Office of the President Committee earlier today.
The committee is established pursuant to the Assumption of the Office of the President Act, 2012 and Article 141 of the Kenyan constitution.
The committee's core mandate is to facilitate a smooth transition from the current administration to the incoming administration.
"The mandate of the committee will be triggered once the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) formally announces the results of the August 9 presidential election and declares a president-elect," said Kinywa.
The functions of the committee are to;
1. Facilitate handing over the process of the outgoing president to the president-elect. 2. Organise for the security of the president-elect. 3. Organise for the necessary facilities and personnel for the president-elect. 4. Co-ordinate the briefings of the president-elect by the relevant public officers. 5. Facilitate communication between the outgoing president and the president-elect. 6. Prepare the programme and organise for the swearing in ceremony.
According to the constitution, the swearing in of the president-elect shall be in public before the chief justice, or, in the absence of the chief justice, the deputy chief justice. ____________________
2:20 pm | 'Respect our officers'
Moments after that dramatic episode inside the national tallying centre, IEBC commissioner Prof. Abdi Guliye issues a warning to party agents: "Our officers must be respected," he says.
"As you are doing your work, ensure that the returning officers are respected." ____________________
2:13 pm | Scenes inside the national tallying centre
We are seeing dramatic scenes unfolding inside the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya.
Sleeves are being folded. Voices and fists raised. Fingers pointing. Security intervenes. IEBC commissioner Prof. Abdi Guliye is on the mic now... calling "Chief agents, chief agents....where are the chief agents? Can you come up here. Where is security? I am calling upon security to come and maintain order here."
Looks like mounting anxiety is bubbling over into frothy scenes of impatience. Walkie-talkies are active...most people are on their feet.
"Anybody standing, can you move from the floor of the tallying centre!" orders IEBC commissioner Guliye.
Eventually, order appears to have been restored. Business - verification process - continues. ____________________
12:33 pm
A nation continues to wait for the August 9 presidential poll oucome. Eager, uncertain and patient.
Meanwhile, the IEBC continues to announce more verified results. The pace is steadying.
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12:12 pm | Chebukati warns agents against slowing verification
Electoral commission chairperson Wafula Chebukati has delivered his first address of the day.
He starts off by admitting that "we have observed that we are not moving as fast as we should".
He particularly cautions the party agents at the national tallying centre to stick to observing the process at the desks verifying the results brought in by the returning officers, as well as taking notes in case of errors.
He says the rigorous verification process cannot proceed with the party agents behaving as if they are doing a "forensics audit".
According to Chebukati, this will slow down the already laborous activity even further amid mounting anxiety within the public for the announcement of the final results.
"Observe and make notes of the process," he tells party agents.
"Don't interrogate the returning officers and slow down the process. If there are any concerns, make notes of the concerns and raise them to me."
Chebukati says that while monitoring the process inside the national tallying centre Thursday night, he observed a few incidents of disruption of the process.
He warns that people involved in such disruptive activity will be removed from the tallying centre.
To expedite the verification process, the IEBC chairman says they are going to increase the number of desks to seven, up from four.
"Each desk should not take more than 15 minutes," he says, referring to the amount of time for handling a returning officer.
And to the returning officers, Chebukati advises them to come to the tallying centre with their documents in order.
The IEBC goes on to announce verified results from four more constituencies, bringing the number to 10 constituencies so far whose results have been announced. That means 281 to go! ____________________
11:33 am | A closely-fought two-horse race
As expected, this four-man presidential race whose outcome is being eargerly awaited in Kenya and beyond was long a two-horse race even before polling day.
The two men at the heart of this contest are Raila Odinga, 77, a veteran opposition leader now backed by longtime rival and departing president Uhuru Kenyatta and is running under the Azimio la Umoja (Quest for Unity)-One Kenya Coalition. The former prime minister has lost four previous shots at the presidency in 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017.
Odinga's main challenger is William Ruto, 55, who served as a lawmaker and agriculture minister before becoming deputy president in 2013. The ambitious rags-to-riches politician is running for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) pledging to fight for "hustlers" trying to make ends meet.
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9:44 am
It remains nothing but a wait for something - anything - from the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya.
There is no doubt there is a general sense of eagerness amongst Kenyan locals to hear from the electoral commission, the IEBC, on the outcome of the presidential election. In the Kenyan capital Nairobi, for instance, the men you see below seated outside a shop in Mathare are very much as anxious as the rest of the population is.
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8:54 am | The journey of the election results
This infographic by the IEBC shows how the election results move, starting from the polling station.
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8:40 am | IEBC verifies presidential results
All eyes are on Kenya's electoral commission, the IEBC, whose officials are physically verifying the presidential results. It is a rigorous - but very important - process. ____________________
6:11 am
The last update of the Royal Media Services tally was done on Thursday just before 10pm. William Ruto was leading Raila Odinga in provisional results.
Meanwhile, at the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya, the IEBC continued to physically verify the presidential results in a painstaking process that could last a long time.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
4:51 am | What happens if . . .
As we eagerly wait for the outcome of the August 9 presidential election, think about this: What happens if the IEBC announces the final presidential result and then there is a challenge to the results?
According to Kenyan law, any challenge to the official result must be made within seven days, and that appeal is to the Supreme Court, which is Kenya's highest court.
The Supreme Court then has 14 days to issue a ruling. Only when it has ordered an annulment must a new election be conducted within 60 days.
But if no post-results announcement petition is filed, the presidential victor takes office two weeks after the final results are announced. ____________________
4:50 pm | What happens if . . .
As the two frontrunners in this close race, to win the election, either Odinga or Ruto needs to secure 50% plus one vote, plus at least a quarter of the votes in 24 of the 47 counties.
But what happens if neither candidate achieves this, you ask?
A run-off must be held within 30 days of August 9 (when the original poll was held). This has never happened before in Kenya. So if it does occur this year, it would enter the country's history books as a first. ____________________
4:37 am | Understanding the forms
Altogether, there are 46,229 form 34As. Each of these forms shows the respective results of each of the 46,229 polling stations. These are from the 47 counties plus the diaspora.
A form 34A from the diaspora (Kampala in Uganda)
- There are 291 form 34Bs. Each of these forms represents the 291 constituencies, including the diaspora. Each form 34B shows the sum of the votes cast in a given constituency (derived from the form 34As of that constituency).
- Form 34C shows the total number of votes from the 291 constituencies. This, therefore, displays the total number of votes cast for each candidate. The final figure.
- Form 34D is the certificate that the IEBC hands to each presidential candidate. ____________________
4:35 am
Meanwhile, 46,201 out of 46,229 form 34As have been transmitted to the electoral commission web portal.
That represents 99.94% of the forms reported. As at 4:35am today, 180 out of 291 forms 34Bs (61.86%) have been made available for public access on the IEBC platform. ____________________
4:30 am
✍🏽 Report by AFP:
International observers expressed concern Thursday about the spread of disinformation during the long wait for results from Kenya's election, as provisional counts point to a tight presidential race.
Preliminary results broadcast by local media indicate that Deputy President William Ruto and Raila Odinga, the veteran opposition leader now backed by the ruling party, are neck-and-neck, raising the likelihood of a challenge by the losing candidate.
No presidential poll outcome has gone uncontested in Kenya since 2002, and the disputes have led to bloodshed in the past, either involving ethnic clashes or police violence.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is under pressure to deliver a free and fair poll after 2017 presidential vote was annulled due to irregularities in the counting process and mismanagement by the election body.
But with the complex process of verifying and tallying votes expected to take days, social media is swamped with disinformation about the results, with rights campaigners and civil society groups accusing both candidates' camps of sharing misleading posts.
Observers from the Commonwealth warned on Thursday that the delay in releasing the results was allowing disinformation to spread rapidly online.
"The time lag between the announcement of the official results by the IEBC and the provisional, and at times conflicting, results announced by the media is an area of concern," Bruce Golding, chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group, told a press conference in Nairobi.
At a separate briefing, observers from the United States also voiced concern about misinformation spreading as the counting process entered its third day.
"It is important that there is timely and accurate information and that all the citizens have access to that information," said Donna Brazile of the National Democratic Institute.
"It is about the citizens having trust in the system and that is working properly. It is not about the continuation of campaigns -- campaigns have ended, and results must be tabulated accurately to ensure confidence in the system."
The remarks echoed concerns shared by Amnesty International and several Kenyan civil society groups on Wednesday about "rising levels of false or misleading information" being shared on social media.
They said in a statement that several posts by candidates and their supporters in the rival camps had "intentionally sought to misinform the electorate and the public" on the electoral process and election results.
"These include distortion, false information shared without malicious intent (misinformation) and those shared to deliberately deceive people (disinformation)."
Kenyans voted in six elections on Tuesday, choosing a new president as well as senators, governors, lawmakers, woman representatives and some 1,500 county officials in polls that were largely peaceful.
The IEBC has yet to publish a final turnout figure but as of Wednesday, turnout was just over 65 percent.
That compares with a final turnout of 78 percent in the disputed August 2017 election.
Observers from the East African Community (EAC) said the lower turnout, especially among Kenyans aged under 35, was worrying.
"This should concern everyone that young people are not participating in the process," said Jakaya Kikwete, head of the bloc's observation mission.
As economic pressures have mounted in the country of 50 million, with food and fuel costs shooting up, many Kenyans said they were fed up with electing leaders who had done little to ease their troubles.
"I have voted twice in my life and after the last election I decided I won't even vote because it is a waste of time," Ruth Musyoki, 40, told AFP in Nairobi. ____________________
4:16 am | PICTURED 📸
On the streets of Kisumu in western Kenya, supporters of Azimio La Umoja Party (One Kenya Coalition Party) presidential candidate Raila Odinga celebrated Thursday evening ahead of the contested presidential election results.
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4:00 am |HABARI ZENU? IT'S FRIDAY!
Hello and good morning again. The Kenyan election has entered its fourth day. The presidential race, which is the centrepiece of this vote, has yet to be decided. For now, it's almost hard to tell them apart - William Ruto and Raila Odinga, that is - in the context of how tight the race is. So tight that the words run-off and re-run are beginning to slide off people's tongues and linger on their minds more often.
If you hadn't known we would have to be in it for the long haul, I am sure you do now.
Kenya's election body, the IEBC, has been very keen on reminding the nation - and world at large - that it has seven days from the day of polling (August 9) to announce the final results. On Thursday, the Wafula Chebukati-led commission started to physically receive and verify the results from its returning officers at the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya in the capital, Nairobi.
As usual, Vision Group continues its coverage of the Kenyan election across its platforms, including New Vision and Bukedde, whose editions for today you can access electronically (e-paper) 👉🏽 HERE.
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9:32 pm | Ruto regains lead - marginally
As IBEC officials continue to verify results from the presidential poll, a glance at the latest tally by Royal Media Services shows that deputy president William Ruto has climbed back on top.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
9:27 pm
The national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi is a hub of activity as the IEBC continues to verify the presidential election results. ____________________
8:40 pm
Too close. A nation is holding its breath.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
8:37 pm | PICTURED 📸
Shopping bags with the face of Raila Odinga printed on are sold at a kiosk in Kisumu.
A portrait of William Ruto hangs on a wall at UDA tallying centre in Nairobi.
A boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) rider wears a Kenyan national flag as he rides a customer through the alleys of Kibera in Nairobi.
Men gather around a mural of Raila Odinga in Kibera, Nairobi as they comment on reports on the results of the presidential race;
Preparations are made at the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja political coalition press centre in Nairobi, as expectations of the impending announcement of the winner in the just concluded general elections mount.
UDA staff members count votes on the forms they download from the IEBC servers, and then doing their own counting at a UDA tallying centre in Nairobi.
People watch a live broadcasting on television of the general election as they wait for the result at a kiosk in Kisumu.
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8:13 pm
As we await the announcement of more verified results by the IBEC, let's have a look at the latest tally by Royal Media Services.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
7:56 pm | 'Advocate for and practise peace'
Meanwhile, one of the presidential candidates has posted on his social media page that he has met with the election observers, including former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete, who is leading the East African Community (EAC) Observation Mission.
While delivering his team's preliminary report earlier today, Kikwete talked of how he had met with three of the four presidential candidates in the build up to the election. Prof. Wajackoyah was away in the village at the time to prepare for the vote - they talked on phone and promised to meet in person later. They did today.
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6:30 pm | VERIFIED RESULTS ALERT 📌
The IEBC has announced the very first verified constituency results: Webuye East (Bungoma County).
Raila Odinga: 13,720 William Ruto: 16,412 David Waihiga: 110 George Wajackoyah: 249
One down, 290 constituencies to go! ____________________
5:00 pm | Raila remains on course - or is he?
Raila Odinga is leading in six of the seven counties that have yet to hit the 100% form 34As transmission mark, according to the tally by Royal Media Services.
They are (in brackets is the form 34As transmission %, as shown on the IEBC web portal): Narok (99.77%) Garissa (99.46%) Tana River (99.73%) Kakamega (99.82%) Wajir (95.41%) Mandera (98.19%)
His main challenger Ruto is leading in only Nandi (99.89%).
The Azimio camp will like the sound of this. But, this is too close to call. Plus, the most important reminder is that it is only the IEBC that is constitutionally mandated to announce the final presidential result.
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4:31 pm | Understanding the presidential results forms
In case you have been getting all mixed up with form 34 this and form 35 that talk, hopefully this will help:
- Altogether, there are 46,229 form 34As. Each of these forms shows the respective results of each of the 46,229 polling stations. These are from the 47 counties plus the diaspora.
A form 34A from the diaspora (Kampala in Uganda)
- There are 291 form 34Bs. Each of these forms represents the 291 constituencies, including the diaspora. Each form 34B shows the sum of the votes cast in a given constituency (derived from the form 34As of that constituency).
- Form 34C shows the total number of votes from the 291 constituencies. This, therefore, displays the total number of votes cast for each candidate. The final figure.
- Form 34D is the certificate that the IEBC hands to each presidential candidate.
Clear now? ____________________
3:58 pm
As Kenya holds its breath for the final presidential result, a quick look back at what happened in the last elections.
In the 2017 poll, Odinga was facing off with current and departing president Uhuru Kenyatta, who at the time was seeking a second term in power.
Odinga cried foul after Uhuru was declared winner. He ran to court. And in a first on the continent, the Supreme Court annulled the result that had been announced by IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati.
In delivering its decision, the court cited widespread "irregularities and illegalities" during vote counting, as well as found fault with how the IEBC had managed the process.
Deadly scenes ensued. A rerun was conducted, which the incumbent won after Odinga boycotted the poll.
A decade earlier, in 2007, Kenya was plunged into its darkest post-election period ever when more than 1,000 people were killed and many others displaced after rival tribes clashed. What happened was that Odinga alleged that the election win of Mwai Kibaki (now the late), the incumbent at the time, had been rigged.
Odinga's current main challenger in his fifth shot at the presidency, Ruto, and Kenyatta were consequently charged by the Hague-based International Criminal Court over the violence. The cases were later dropped.
There were jitters in the lead-up to this year's election. But with observers giving the election process a fairly clean bill of health, including the EAC observation team as earlier reported on this page today, there is a growing sense among Kenyans that this time around, there will be no repeat of the post-election environment seen in previous polls.
For now, they continue to hold their breath for the identity of a brand-new face in their nation's top seat.
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3:27 pm | What happens if . . .
Here is a scenario.
The IEBC announces the final presidential outcome at the commission's national tallying centre and then there is a challenge to the results.
What happens?
According to Kenyan law, any challenge to the official result must be made within seven days, and that appeal is to the Supreme Court, which is Kenya's highest court.
The Supreme Court then has 14 days to issue a ruling. Only when it has ordered an annulment must a new election be conducted within 60 days.
But if no post-results announcement petition is filed, the presidential victor takes office two weeks after the final results are announced. ____________________
3:15 pm | What happens if . . .
As Kenya draws ever nearer to knowing the identity of Uhuru Kenyatta's successor, let me remind you that to win this very tight race as we have already seen, either Odinga or Ruto needs to secure 50% plus one vote, plus at least a quarter of the votes in 24 of the 47 counties.
But what happens if neither candidate achieves this, you ask?
A run-off must be held within 30 days of August 9 (when the original poll was held). This has never happened before in Kenya. So if it does occur this year, it would enter the country's history books as a first.
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2:48 pm | Odinga leads presidential race
As it stands . . .
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
1:25 pm
On Thursday, Kenya National Youth servicemen carry ballot boxes at a tallying centre at the St Georges Secondary School in Nairobi.
A woman rests on a chair under a row of unopened ballot boxes at a tallying centre at the St Georges Secondary School in Nairobi.
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12:50 pm
The next status update by the IEBC will be at 4pm. ____________________
12:45 pm | 'Don't come to tally from Bomas of Kenya'
So what happens at the national tallying centre (Bomas of Kenya) for the returning officers coming physically to deliver forms 34As and 34Bs?
There are desks to handle the verification of transmitted images of results form 34s against original form 34Bs. The IEBC teams at the desks are also verifying constituencies form 34Bs against their respective original form 34As. Form 34B (constituency) is a summation of form 34As (polling stations).
Some of the desks check for errors, for which they are tasking with generating an errors report.
Party agents have been warned to come to Bomas of Kenya for only confirmation and getting copies of the original forms but NOT to tally votes. Tallying should be done prior to coming to the national tallying centre using their respective APIs or the public web portal to download the PDFs of the results.
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12:27 pm | IEBC's Chebukati clarifies on discrepancy in figures
In his first briefing of the day, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati says that in the buildup to the election, the commission signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of media outlets to allow for collective tallying and transmission of provisional of results.
He says that despite that MoU, media outlets have since opted to do the tallying and transmission of provisional results independently, which explains why you are seeing different tallies across the media outlets.
The discrepancy in figures is due to a number of dynamics, including speed, capacity and method of tallying.
But above all, Chebukati says that, if done accurately, the final figures should ideally be the same because these media outlets are downloading the batches of votes from the same source: the IEBC web portal.
"The final announcement and declaration of the result will be done by the national returning officer," he underlines, referring to himself, and adds that there should be no panic from seeing different tallies for now.
Chebukati says that for the areas where the manual register had to be used after the KIEMS kits failure (84 polling stations in Makueni county and 154 in Kakamega county), all but two have transmitted all their forms 34As.
For the two that did not, the KIEMS kit was eventually used for verification.
The electoral commission chairman says that returning officers have started coming physically to Bomas of Kenya, the national tallying centre, to manually submit their forms for verification. ____________________
11:58 am | Odinga regains lead - marginally
Keep your eyes off the provisional results and you will miss it.
In a race as close as this one, every vote counts. After leading right from the start of today, as per Royal Media Services' tally, William Ruto has slipped into second. But by a slim margin. The Odinga camp will be hoping that their man stays on top all the way.
If you asked me, this election is going right down to the wire.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
11:24 am | Kikwete-led EAC observation team 'satisfied'
Former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete is leading the East African Community (EAC) observation mission in Kenya's election.
He says they deployed teams at 218 polling stations for their observation mission.
In the buildup to the August 9 poll, Kikwete, who was president of Tanzania from 2005 until 2015, says they undertook consultations with various stakeholders, including IEBC officials, the Kenyan chief justice and cabinet secretary.
He also met presidential candidates William Ruto, Raila Odinga and Bishop David Mwaure Waihiga. He spoke on phone with Prof. George Wajackoyah, who was at the time away in his village to vote.
Kikwete, 71, tells reporters that they had consultations with other stakeholders, including political parties, security services, human rights agencies and ambassadors of the EAC member states in Kenya.
The EAC observation mission's preliminary report is based on consultations and findings of their observations from pre-election and election day activities.
To begin with, Kikwete says they observed that the campaigns were generally conducted in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The isolated incidents, including the security-related ones, were handled by the security agencies, he adds.
They also noted the "important contribution" by different stakeholders that helped in promoting peace and harmony.
One blemish, though, was the observed disinformation, misinformation and hate speech spread on social media. He commends the IEBC and mainstream media for addressing these challenges. He also particularly commends mainstream media for their coverage of the election.
Kikwete notes the "remarkable improvement made by the IEBC in regards to transparency, preparation and management of the election".
He, however, says more needs to be done for better conduction of elections. In the future, the mission says there should be better communication betwen the IEBC and the different stakeholders.
On the day of polling, the Kikwete-led mission says that generally, the situation was "calm, peaceful and orderly".
Kikwete says most polling stations opened on time, albeit a few that delayed, due to various reasons. For those that delayed, the mission says the IEBC ensured there was compensation of the time lost by extending the time of closure of polls there.
"The IEBC should take collective measures to ensure that these deficiencies do not occur next time," says Kikwete.
The EAC observation mission says security personnel were present and professional in their discharge of duty - and that they "did not intimidate voters". The mission says this attitude should be consistent "everywhere, anywhere and for every task you are assigned to do after the poll".
"Polling officials displayed high levels of competency and professionalism," adds Kikwete, also saying that the mission he is leading commends the IEBC for selection and training of polling officials, and particularly for involving young people and women in the process.
The mission also commends the Kenyan electoral body on the "successful use of technology" in the election process, including voter identification and transmission of results, which they say improved efficiency.
For the technical challenges of especially the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits, the mission urges the IEBC to make improvements and better preparation next time.
While the misson was pleased that party agents were present at polling stations, "it was concerning that it was only the two political alliances that deployed".
"It was intriguing to note that there were many agents of independent candidates," says Kikwete, who is keen to add that that tells another story of its own.
In all polling stations observed, the mission says the party agents signed copies of the declaration forms. "Protocols and procedures of opening and closing were observed."
The EAC observation team says that to enhance monitoring, the IEBC should consider allowing party agents to move closer to the voters.
Meanwhile, the mission received complaints from young people that parties did not provide them with the opportunity and space to participate in elective politics.
"We consider this a serious matter which needs attention. Young people are the future of this country," says Kikwete.
Among their recommendations, the mission urges political actors and government to ensure that young people are given the opportunity to participate in elections.
"We appeal to political actors and stakeholders to continue to maintain peace after the results are released," says Kikwete, going further to encourage peaceful processes in the resolution of disputes arising from election outcomes.
"The election observation mission is satisfied with the way the election was conducted," concludes Kikwete, adding that they hope the will and collective choice of the people of the people Kenya is respected and upheld. ____________________
9:47 am | Odinga takes Kampala diaspora vote
For the diaspora vote, there were three polling stations in Uganda.
Here, Raila Odinga got the most number of votes from the Kenyan nationals who voted from Kampala. The Azimio candidate got a total of 445 votes while his main challenger William Ruto of UDA got 235 votes.
Prof. George Wajackoyah of the Roots Party and Agano's David Mwaure Waihiga got one vote apiece.
Below is a screenshot of one of the three form 34As from Kampala, on which the presiding officer' comment was that the turnout was "reasonable".
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9:28 am
And speaking of provisional results, here is how things stand: Ruto (5.745 million) vs Odinga (5.644 million).
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
9:20 am
By now, you have must have been hearing the magic word form 34A. This is the document showing details of the presidential election results at a polling station.
As at 9:20am today, 46,112 (99.76%) out of 46,229 form 34As have been reported to the electoral commission from 48 counties. It is these forms - available to the public on the IEBC web portal - that media outlets like Royal Media Services have been downloading to painstakingly extract the number of votes of each candidate and tally them to provide the provisional results that they are broadcasting.
Here is a sample of the form 34As:
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9:05 am
The diaspora vote.
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8:38 am
Meanwhile, the main rivals in the Kenyan presidential race have gone silent on social media. Since their respective posts on Twitter of them casting their ballot on Tuesday, William Ruto and Raila Odinga have not posted anything yet.
They are following silently.
For now, the provisional tally by Royal Media Services shows that about 80,000 votes separate leader Ruto and Odinga, with more than 70% of the votes tallied.
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7:13 am | Ruto maintains lead over Odinga - RMS tally
The assurance to the public has been consistent: While you may see different figures on different mainstream media platforms, the final figures should all harmonise into consistent ones at the end of it all - because the media houses that have the capacity to do so are tallying the results picked from the IEBC portal (form 34As) at different rates.
On this page we have been making reference to the tally by Royal Media Services, as shown below by their latest figures as at 7:12am:
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
7:09 am | 'We are one Kenya'
As the anxious, patient wait for the final presidential election results continues, the IBEC is putting in an effort into reminding Kenyans that they may be diverse "but we are one Kenya" and "together we are destined for greatness".
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7:00 am | Rise and shine, Kenya! 🇰🇪
Many Kenyans are waking up today to an undecided presidential vote, and will be eager to see this settled soon.
Remember that it is only the IEBC that is constitutionally mandated to announce the final results of any election on the land.
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6:22 am
Through various messages, Kenya's election body IEBC has been cautioning people against spreading fake news at a time when there is a general sense of eagerness for the result of a tightly contested presidential race.
Here is one such message 👇🏽
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6:05 am | It is neck and neck at the top
The focus of this four-way presidential race is on the front two candidates: William Rutoand Raila Odinga.
Ruto is hoping to become the second Kalenjin after Daniel Toroitch Arap Moi (1978-2002) to become president of Kenya. His main challenger Odinga will become the first Luo president if he wins.
Both candidates have since crossed the five-million mark - as per the Royal Media Services tally - as votes continue to be tallied, with about four million (about 25%) to go.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
5:48 am
Vision Group continues its coverage of the Kenyan election across its platforms, including New Vision and Bukedde, whose editions for today you can access electronically (e-paper) 👉🏽 HERE.
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5:34 am
On the evening of Wednesday, dramatic scenes unfolded at the St. Theresa Girls Secondary School polling station and counting centre, as security officers and observers attempted to quell a group of irate people fired up over alleged vote tampering.
Fists and voices were raised in anger, with the group alleging that seals of some ballot boxed had been opened prematurely. The police officers managed to hold off the crowd and guard the ballot boxes.
Take a look at pictures from that scene:
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4:55 am | Scaling the key mountain
This year, Kikuyus, who account for around five million of Kenya's 22 million voters, have not had any one of their own to pick unlike in the past, where they had easy picks in Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Kenyatta's son Uhuru.
This year, the Kikuyu have had to choose between Ruto, a Kalenjin and Odinga, a Luo.
Odinga has Kikuyu lawyer and former justice minister Martha Karua for a running mate. Ruto's running mate is Rigathi Gachagua, also a Kikuyu.
The counties in Mt Kenya are Nyeri, Kiambu, Murang'a, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Laikipia, Meru and Nyandarua.
In the results that have so far been tallied, Ruto is leading in all these counties.
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4:43 am | William Ruto carries lead into Thursday
As the results continue to be tallied, we have seen the lead shared between the two frontrunners in this tight presidential race at different points since the start of tallying.
With nearly 10 million votes tallied - by Royal Media Services - thus far, UDA's William Ruto is leading Azimio's Raila Odinga: 4,941,396 (50.05%) vs 4,797,453 (48.59%)
Prof. George Wajackoyah of the Roots Party (42,024/0.42%) and Agano's David Mwaure Waihiga (20,859/0.21%) are the two other candidates.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
4:30 am | IT IS DAY THREE - THURSDAY
Good morning everyone. A closely-fought Kenyan president vote enters a third day, as an anxious nation continues to wait for the final result.
Up until now, it has been - and still is - provisional results. But steadily, we are getting there. Let's continue with our running commentary on this interesting presidential poll.
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8:48 pm
This eveing at the St Teresa Girls Secondary School in Mathare, in Nairobi, a row of ballot boxes are ready to be counted.
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8:34 pm
There are chaotic scenes at the Starehe constituency tallying centre, with chants of "thief! thief!" in a dramatic episode unfolding.
Police officers have intervened. It is not clear what the pandemonium is exactly about, but one of individuals at the centre tells Citizen TV that there has been an attempt to have a reportedly unsealed ballot box sneaked in after tallying had already been completed..
Two suspects are said to be under police detention. ____________________
8:30 pm
As you would expect, there has been a lot of engagement on social media concerning the Kenyan election, with loads of figures flying around. Most importantly, what you should know is that it is the Kenyan election commission, IEBC, that is constitutionally mandated to announce the final results.
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8:18 pm | Odinga maintains lead in provisional results
The Odinga camp will like what they see. So far.
We have already been told not to expect the final presidential results announcement today.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
5:58 pm | The battlegrounds
According to the provisional results that have been tallied so far (about 30%), the following counties remain the battlegrounds (it is tight and they could swing other way):
Trans Nzoia, Narok, Isiolo, Lamu, Nairobi City, Tana River, Samburu, Marsabit, Wajir and Kajiado
Pay closer attention to them as you crunch the numbers. ____________________
5:31 pm | Provisional results place Odinga in front
As at 5:30pm, Raila Odinga of Azimio is currently leading the presidential race in provisional results from a little over a quarter of all that have since been tallied.
Statistics show he has about 2.42 million votes while his challenger UDA's William Ruto has garnered 2.19 million votes.
Note that these are provisional results.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
5:29 pm
Meanwhile, the IEBC has realised 98.68% of form 34A transmission from 45,621 out of a total 46,229 polling stations. ____________________
5:17 pm | 'When Kenya wins, we all win'
Kenyan government spokesperson Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna has hailed voters in Tuesday's general election by saying that "the strong display of love for our motherland.....in an environment of calm and peace was envious of many".
"As we now wait for the @IEBCKenya to tally and transmit results, we urge all to continue preaching and upholding peace. By doing so, the biggest winner can only be KENYA. When Kenya wins, we all win," he has tweeted.
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4:20 pm | Latest status update by IEBC 👇🏽
Here is the latest election status update by Kenya's election commission delivered during a press conference at Bomas of Kenya:
The commission appreciates Kenyans for continued patience as it continues to collate and tally results.
As you are aware, elections in Eldas constituency, Wajir county were adjourned yesterday (Tuesday) due to security reasons. We are happy to report that voting in the constituency commenced today (Wednesday) at 6am.
The commission yesterday (Tuesday) adjourned election at Didaage Primary School polling station in Garsen constituency after experiencing logistical and technical challenges. Voting commenced today (Wednesday) after the commission addressed the challenges and authorising the use of the manual register for the 569 registered voters.
Results transmission of form 34A from the polling stations is ongoing as you can see on the screens. The information is also available on our public portal on the website. As at 4:20pm, the transmission is at 98.31%, representing 45,450 out of 46,229 polling stations.
Collating and announcement of results at the constituencies is under way. Once the returning officers complete the process, they will physically deliver to the national tallying centre form 34As and 34Bs after declaring results for member of national assembly and member of county assembly.
At the national tallying centre, the following activities will take place:
- Verification of transmitted image of results form 34As against original form 34As. - Verification of constituencies form 34Bs against their respective original form 34Bs. - Collation of form 34C and confirmation of constitutional threshold of 50% plus one vote and 25% of majority counties, declaration of presidential results, and issuance of certificate to the president-elect.
The commission wishes to inform the country on the following incidents:
- Result form 34A from Rakwaro market polling station, Rongo constituency, Migori county was erroneously transmitted to the presidential results portal. The commission will wait for the original form 34A from the returning officer, validate it with the presidential agents and thereafter replace the said image in the portal.
- Two incomplete form 34Bs from Ainabkoi constituency, Uasin Gishu county and Saboti constituency, Trans Nzoia county were erroneously uploaded in the commission's portal. The returning officer for the respective constituency will upload the correct form 34Bs after completion of the form 34Bs and upon signing with the agents.
Results announced at the polling station are final.
The law requires that the commission (IEBC) undertakes verification of the presidential election results and declare the president-elect within seven days. However, the commission shall endeavour to conclude this exercise at the earliest possible.
The commission calls for patience as it undertakes this exercise. ____________________
3:16 pm | Odinga claws back into the lead
There is still a long way to go. And there are all signs that this lead may continue to be shared between the two top contenders in this presidential election - until a time when it stabilises. Too early to call it.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
3:02 pm | Results announced not for today - IEBC chair
IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati has said that as a commission, they don't expect to announce the Kenyan presidential election result today. ____________________
2:05 pm
The Wafula Chebukati-led Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is about to address the nation for the first time today.
The commission has received 97.49% of the forms 34A from the 46,229 polling stations spread out across the country. ____________________
1:26 pm | Odinga trailing Ruto
As at 1:23pm today, the about 25% of the total number of votes that have been tallied thus far show that William Ruto is leading with 49.77% against closest challenger Raila Odinga's 48.82%.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
1:18 pm
Seasoned politician Raila Odinga, 77, chose Martha Karua as his running mate, as he gave the presidency a fifth shot, following four unsuccessful attempts: 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017.
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12:59 pm | PICTURED 📸
Presiding officers return all electoral materials used in Tuesday's general election at the tallying centre in Eldoret.
An Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official arranges used ballot boxes containing all electoral materials at the tallying centre in Eldoret.
On this street in Nairobi, these men read newspapers to catch up on news on electoral results.
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12:50 pm | Ruto leading as vote tallying continues
Meanwhile, the first county to report all its forms 34A (from 555 polling stations) to the IEBC is Elgeyo/Marakwet.
Many other counties are also soon reporting 100% of their forms. These forms indicate the number of votes recorded at each polling station. Altogether, 44,660 forms 34A out of 46,229 have been reported to Kenya's election commission.
From the 44,660 forms reported, the results from about 10,000 of them have already been tallied - and these show that William Ruto is in the lead: 1,774,891 vs Raila Odinga's 1,723,811 vs Prof. George Wajackoyah's 16,360 vs David Mwaure Waihiga's 7,175.
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12:34 pm
The IEBC is sending out content cautioning people against spreading fake news at a time when there is an eager anticipation of the result of a tightly contested presidential race.
One of such messages is this animation 👇🏽
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11:38 am
Kenya adminstration police officers are seen patrolling the streets of Eldoret today as Kenyan anxiously waiting for the announcement of the final presidential result.
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11:25 am | Ruto opening gap (provisional results)
UDA's William Ruto is gradually pulling away (ahead) from his main challenger Raila Odinga of Azimio, according to the provisional results representing about a quarter of all the votes that have since been tallied.
There is a still a long way to go, though.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
10:35 am | Long days and nights . . .
At the tallying centre in Kilgoris in Narok county, these presiding officers have some shuteye as they wait to return all electoral materials following the general election.
Here, presiding officers and security officers from polling station wait with ballot boxes to return all electoral material to the tallying centre in Kilgoris.
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10:21 am | Who leads with over 60% per county (provisional results)
From the early votes counted and confirmed (still a small percentage), take a look at the counties in which the two presidential race frontrunners are leading with over 60%:
Tight:Narok, Nairobi, Tana River, Mombasa, Samburu, Marsabit, Wajir, Kajiado, Tans Nzoia, Isiolo, Lamu. (Raila is ahead with a slim margin in these counties)
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
10:03 am | Ruto leading in Mt Kenya
The counties in Mt Kenya are Nyeri, Kiambu, Murang'a, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Laikipia, Meru and Nyandarua.
In the early results that have come through, Ruto is leading in all these counties. ____________________
9:59 am | Mt Kenya vote
This year, Kikuyus, who account for around five million of Kenya's 22 million voters, have not had any one of their own to pick unlike in the past, where they had easy picks in Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Kenyatta's son Uhuru.
This year, the Kikuyu have had to choose between Ruto, a Kalenjin and Odinga, a Luo.
Odinga has Kikuyu lawyer and former justice minister Martha Karua for a running mate. Ruto's running mate is Rigathi Gachagua, also a Kikuyu.
Who takes this crucial vote? ____________________
9:53 am | 'Amani ni tamu'
"Peace is sweet'.
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9:44 am | 'Empty Nairobi CBD'
Forlorn streets in Nairobi's central business district are being reported on the second day of Kenya's general election. Last week, Kenyan interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiang'i declared Tuesday, August 9 as a public holiday to allow Kenyans to vote.
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9:30 am
Meanwhile, as many as 43,615 forms 34A out of 46,229 (representing total number of polling stations) have been reported to the IEBC, Kenya's election commission. That represents 94.40% of the total number of forms.
Counties like Kericho, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Busia, Baringo, Bungoma, Bomet, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Machakos, Makueni and Kisii have sent through more than 95% of their forms to the IEBC. ____________________
8:02 am
Ruto vs Odinga: A first-time presidential candidate is battling a five-time presidential candidate.
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7:58 am
A nation continues to anxiously wait for the presidential result.
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7:40 am
It continues to be fine margins at the top.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
7:33 am
In Siaya County in soutwestern Kenya, one electoral commission official interviewed at Siaya Institute of Technology has spoken of how the execise has been smooth, from her assessment.
"Everything has gone on without a glitch. I received my meal card and as I speak now, I have already received my allowance," she happily tells a Citizen TV reporter. ____________________
7:21 am
Generally, this election has been hailed for being largely peaceful. What has been of concern, however, has been the low voter turnout noted in many parts of the country, with some observers wondering why the huge numbers seen during the campaigning period did not translate into longer lines at the over 46,000 polling stations.
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7:09 am | Who is leading in which counties?
The presidential election results portal continues to be fed with more results. Take a look at which candidates are leading in which counties, provisionally 👇🏽
William Ruto: Narok, Baringo, Laikipia, Kericho, Nyandarua, Tharaka-Nithi, Uasin Gishu, Nyeri, Murang'a, Embu, Nandi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Bomet, Meru, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kirinyaga, Marsabit, West Pokot, Tans Nzoia, Isiolo, Lamu ____________________
6:13 am | Wajackoyah ahead of Waihiga in 3rd place
The Kenyan presidential poll is a race of two races. The front pack competition has William Ruto (UDA) and Raila Odinga (Azimio), who have since pulled away, go neck and neck as the top contenders.
The trailing pack, on the other hand, sees Prof. George Wajackoyah (Roots) leading David Mwaure Waihiga (Agano) for third place. ____________________
6:00 am | Too close - and too early - to call
With a presidential race as close as this one - where the leadership is shared every other couple of minutes as results continue to flow in - people will be investing more attention to the possibility of a run-off.
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5:42 am | Odinga regains lead in close race
Five-time presidential candidate Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party has regained his lead against main challenger William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in what continues to be a tight race for Kenya's presidency.
From what is happening, these two are going to be top contenders are going to share this lead like what happens in a very tactical 5,000m race, before the race leadership race becomes stable.
Again, it is important to note that the numbers and percentages you see below are only a fraction of what Royal Media Services has collated from what the IEBC has gathered, with a little over 90% of the forms 34A submitted.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
5:39 am | What they told their followers
There are four candidates in the Kenyan presidential race: William Ruto, Raila Odinga, Prof. George Wajackoyah and David Mwaure Waihiga.
After casting their ballot at their respective polling stations on Tuesday, three of them took to their social media to alert their followers that they had done so, also encouraging them to get out there and vote:
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5:20 am
A video profile of presidential frontrunner William Ruto 👇🏽
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5:19 am
A video profile of presidential frontrunner Raila Odinga 👇🏽
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5:03 am | Three tallying centres at Bomas
The commission handling Kenya's election, IEBC, has yet to give an update today (Wednesday), with the last one having come Tuesday evening when it launched the results transmisson phase of this whole election process.
IEBC has three tallying centres at the constituency, county and the national, which are all at Bomas of Kenya in the south of Nairobi.
The constituency tallying centre is handling results from polling stations and declaration of member of national assembly and member of country assembly; as well as collation of presidential, gubernatorial (governors), senatorial (senators) and county woman MP.
The county tallying centre is handling the final tallying and declaration of gubernatorial, senatorial and county woman MP.
The national tallying centre is verifying transmitted images of results form 34As against the original form 34As. Also happening at this centre is the:
- Verification of constituencies form 34Bs against their respective original form 34Bs - Collation of form 34C - Confirmation of constitutional threshold of 50% plus one vote and 25% of majority counties - Declaration of presidential results - Issuance of certificate to the president-elect. ____________________
4:34 am | Ruto ahead in tight race
William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is ahead of main challenger and five-time presidential candidate Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party.
Note that the numbers and percentages you see below are a fraction of what Royal Media Services has collated from what the IEBC has gathered, with nearly 90% of the forms 34A (from polling stations) already in.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
4:31 am | A nation anxiously awaits result
Some Kenyans will have lost sleep staying up through the night to follow every bit of result coming from a presidential race that appears to will be won by a slender margin, according to the latest provisional results.
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4:20 am | GOOD MORNING AGAIN - IT'S WEDNESDAY
Hello everyone, the Kenyan election enters a second day. The main attention is on the presidential race. It is tight - very tight - between the two frontrunners: William Ruto and Raila Odinga.
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10:32 pm
It is fine margins in this presidential race between the two frontrunners. Ruto now leaps into a slender lead (provisional results), as per county results.
Note that the numbers and percentages you see are only a fraction of what Royal Media Services has managed to collate from what the IEBC has gathered.
(Source: Citizen Digital) ____________________
10:23 pm | Odinga narrowly ahead
The provisional results - as more continue to flow in - show that Azimio'a Raila Odinga is marginally ahead of UDA's William Ruto.
In the trailing pack, way farther behind, Prof. George Wajackoyah is ahead of David Waihiga. ____________________
9:54 pm
The IEBC is about to launch its results transmission phase of the election process.
In his prayer before the launch at Bomas of Kenya, Bishop John Oballa Owaa of Ngong Diocese urges "all actors and stakeholders to act responsibly".
He says they "commend the millions of Kenyans who turned up to vote". ____________________
9:33 pm | PRESIDENTIAL RACE UPDATE
The provisional numbers from IEBC show that Raila Odinga is slightly ahead of his closest challenger William Ruto, with a little over 40% of the 34A forms in. ____________________
9:00 pm | As at 9pm, who is leading in which county?
William Ruto is ahead in: Narok, Baringo, Laikipia, Kericho, Nyandarua, Tharaka-Nithi, Uasin Gishu, Tana River, Nyeri, Murang'a, Embu, Nandi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Bomet, Meru, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kirinyaga, Samburu, Marsabit, Kwale, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia ____________________
8:53 pm | PICTURED 📸
Sealed ballot boxes sit on a table after polls closed at the Masurura Primary School polling station in Masurura.
An electoral commission official proceeds to count votes after the official closing of the polls at Mathare Social Hall in Nairobi.
An IEBC official counts votes in front of observers and party agents at Mathare Social Hall in Nairobi.
IEBC officials make concensus with observers before counting the presidential ballot papers at Masurura Primary School polling station.
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8:30 pm
For the presidential race, the DR forms from 12,102 out of 46,229 polling stations are already in. That represents 26.18%, according to statistics from Kenya's election commission, the IEBC.
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7:03 pm
It is still early days, as vote counting continues. So far, only 29 out of 46,229 34A forms have been submitted, with the most (five) coming from Turkana county.
Every polling station submits a 34A form.
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6:47 pm | IEBC to hold by-elections in 8 areas 👇🏽
We appreciate that Kenyans continue to turn up and exercise their democratic right to vote.
At around 4pm, 12,065,803 registered voters out of 22,120,458 had cast their vote. This equates to 56.17% of voter turnout, excluding voting through the manual register. Further, the commission has noted there are still long queues of voters at the polling stations. In areas where voting started late or was interrupted, such as Kakemega and Makueni counties, time lost will be compensated.
The commission has resolved to hold by-elections in eight electoral areas due to court orders and mismatch of material content on August 23, 2022. These include:
- Gubernatorial positions - Mombasa and Kakamega counties - Member of national assembly - Kitui Rural constituency (Kitui county), Kacheliba constituency (West Pokot county), Pokot South constituency (West Pokot county) and Rongai constituency (Nakuru county). - Member of county assembly ward - Nyaki West (North Imenti constituency - Meru county), Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South constituency - Nairobi county).
The by-election will be held in the next two weeks because:
- Voters in the electoral area deserve a short period to elect their leaders - The commission will also be ready to conduct the by-election, having dispensed off with other electoral activities relating to the general election - It will be cost-effective since the same equipment and personnel will be deployed with minimum training
Elections in Eldas constituency in Wajir county have been adjourned due to security reasons and voting shall commence tomorrow (Wednesday) at 6am.
The commission urges members of the public to utilise its 24-hour toll-free line - 1543 and 1544 - should they wish to bring incidences to the commission's attention.
The commission will keep you regularly updated on all developments touching on the general election. ____________________
6:20 pm
Vote counting is under way at various polling stations.
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6:18 pm | WATCH: When Odinga cast his ballot
When departing president Uhuru Kenyatta voted from Mutomo Primary School polling station in Gatundu South in Kiambu county. Take a look 👇🏽
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5:54 pm
Here is the journey of the election results, as presented by the IEBC, Kenya's election commission 👇🏽
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5:33 pm | WATCH: When Odinga cast his ballot
Presidential candidate Raila Odinga voted from Old Kibra Primary School polling station in Nairobi. Take a look 👇🏽
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5:01 pm | POLLING OFFICIALLY CLOSES
Polling has officially closed. Only those found in the queue are allowed to carry on and cast their ballot.
"Where there is a delay in opening or interruption in voting at a polling stattion, the presiding officer shall extend the hours of polling by the amoung of time lost," the election commission, IEBC, announced earlier in the day.
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4:45 pm
15 MINUTES TO OFFICIAL END OF POLLING.
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4:39 pm | Nakuru East MP arrested over 'assault'
Nakuru County Police Commander Peter Mwanzo has just told reporters that they have arrested Nakuru East legislator David Gikaria in connection to violence at a polling station and alleged assault of a fellow candidate.
Asked for the identity of the reported victim, Mwanzo has declined to name them, only offering that "the main victim is an aspiring MCA [member of county assembly]".
Gikaria is in a quest to retain his seat. ____________________
4:30 pm
In its first update of the day to the nation, the IEBC said that as at midday, as many as 6,567,869 Kenyans had turned up to vote, which was equivalent to 30.65% of the 22,120,458 registered voters.
Voting has since been going on at the polling stations spread out across the vast East African nation. Take a look at a breakdown of the number of registered voters per region:
- Rift Valley Region (5,349,889) - Nyanza Region (3,120,932) - Central Region (3,114,735) - Nairobi (2,415,310) - Western (2,218,704) - Coast (1,963,144) - Lower Eastern (1,699,724) - Upper Eastern (1,594,789) - North Eastern (629,261) ____________________
4:17 pm
Besides the Kenyan voters in the diaspora, prisoners, like the ones pictured below in Kisumu after casting their ballot, are the other group that are voting for only the president and not the other five elective positions.
Meanwhile, it is just under an hour until polling officially closes.
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3:58 pm | 100-year-old votes
Smartly-dressed in a suit, Mzee Philip Ole Lemein is a 100-year-old resident of Narok county who has voted today, with a call to the younger people to embrace election participation. ____________________
3:54 pm | Voting in 12 other countries
Meanwhile, voting in the diaspora has also taken place in 12 countries: Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, United Kingdom, Canada, USA, South Sudan, Qatar, UAE, and Germany.
Note that voting in the diaspora is only for president.
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3:27 pm | IEBC status report on polling day
Here is more from the status update by Kenya's election body, the IEBC, including security incidents and an accident.
The commission says that on Monday night, it was alerted of incidents of gunfire in Eldas Constituency Election Office in Wajir county, where ballot materials were stored.
"During the gunfight, election officials remained trapped inside the offices preparing to dispatch materials to polling stations. Election has been adjourned and voting shall begin once the issue is resolved."
In Turkana Central constituency, the commission was informed of a road accident involving a presiding officer and two clerks from Kalokol Ward. The three were rushed to hospital with minor injuiries and later discharged. The officials have since been replaced to allow them to recuperate.
"Due to security concerns raised in Daadab constituency and four polling stations, specifically Maguto Primary School, Barkin Primary School, Hamajo Bore Hall and Qot Qot Bore Hall are yet to be opened. The commission is in consultation with security to address the issues raised."
On KIEMS kits and network connectivity, the IEBC said it is working through its ICT officers to resolve any reported issues on KIEMS kits by returning and presiding officers.
"The commission has, therefore, authorized the use of manual register in Makueni county (Kibwezi West constituency) for 84 polling stations and Kakamega county (Malava, Matungu, Mumias West and Mumias East constituencies) for 154 polling stations.
The election body said it provided six backup KIEMS kits per ward in the event of the failure of a KIEMS kit.
The IEBC urged the public to alert them of any election-related cases using toll-free lines (1543 and 1544 - I believe only if you are in Kenya).
"Where there is a delay in opening or interruption in voting at a polling stattion, the presiding officer shall extend the hours of polling by the amoung of time lost," said the commission. ____________________
3:00 pm | TWO HOURS TO CLOSE POLLING
There are two hours left for polling to end. As is the norm, only those found still in the line by 5pm will be allowed to go ahead and cast their ballot.
The 5pm deadline extension applies to only polling stations where there were delays to open, for various reasons, according to the assurance issued by the election commission in their update earlier today. ____________________
2:47 pm
As at midday, as many as 6,567,869 Kenyans had turned up to vote, says the IEBC. This is equivalent to 30.65% of the 22,120,458 registered voters.
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2:20 pm
This voter arrives in style, carried by a human chariot, at the Old Kibera Primary School in Kibera.
Former president of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete is the head of East African Community (EAC) election observation mission. He is seen here talking to reporters in Old Kibera polling station.
A Kenyan Police officer directs people to their polling stations at Ngei Pag Primary and Secondary School polling station in the informal settlement of Mathare in Nairobi.
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2:03 pm
Kenya's election commission warns against sharing of photos of ticked ballot papers, saying that doing so is "punishable by law".
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1:43 pm
Meanwhile, Prof. George Wajackoyah, one of the four presidential candidates in the race to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta, has finally voted after a breakdown of th Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS) caused hours-long delays in Matungu constituency in Kakamega county. ____________________
1:37 pm | IEBC announces more postponements
Kenya's election commission IEBC has delivered its first press conference of the day at Bomas of Kenya, the national tally centre.
One of the notable developments is that the commission is postponing elections for member of national assemby in Kitui Rural and Rongai constituencies "because wrong candidate pictures and details were printed on the ballot papers".
"In areas where election materials have yet to arrive due to flooding and other natural calamities, the commission is working hard to ensure that materials are in place for a smooth conduct of the general election," said IEBC vice-chairperson Juliana Cherera. ____________________
1:16 pm
The IEBC has tweeted a sample of correctly marked ballot papers:
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1:07 pm | PICTURED 📸
Prisoners queue at the Nakuru GK Prison polling station to vote in Nakuru.
Voters queue to have their information verified on the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS) at a polling station at Kariokor Community Centre in Nairobi.
Indelible ink is applied to a voter's finger to ensure they cannot vote again.
A general view of a ballot paper.
Henry Cheboi (R) cooks chapati as voters queue to vote during Kenya's general election at the M.V Patel hall polling station in Eldoret.
An elderly woman arrives at the Mutomo primary school polling station to vote in Kiambu.
A man casts his ballot at the Ruiru Boys school polling station in Kiambu.
People wait to vote as members of the General Service Unit (GSU) of Kenyan Police Service are seen at the Mutomo primary school polling station.
A Maasai woman holds her ID card as a presiding officer takes her picture to report the failure of her finger prints' recognition on the KIEMS at Nailare Primary School polling station in Kilgoris.
A voter queues during Kenya's general election at New Eastleigh Primary School polling station in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, Prof. George Wajackoyah's addresses the press in Matungu constituency in Kakamega county after failing to vote due to failure of the electronic voter register, the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS) .
"I am very disappointed," he says, adding that he has lost millions of voters becasue of the sysem glitch and goes on to wonder why he is the only one of the four presidential candidates that has failed to vote.
"Why Kakamega county? Why Matungu county? What are these people afraid of?" he questions. "I was supposed to fly back [to Kisumu] this afternoon. I now have to buy another ticket.
The Roots Party leader speaks of his helplessness in the wake of a failed electronic system that has also caused similar delays in other areas today. He says the IEBC told him to wait.
"Why rig me out of this election? I stand with God. That's the only thing I can say. I have lost millions of votes. If I lose in my strongholds, what happens?"
His wife, who is by his side, reiterates their disappointment with the system but urges people to "remain cool" until they see the situation through. ____________________
11:55 am | Arrests in Kibra over voter bribery
Kenyan media report of the arrest of four women over alleged voter bribery.
The arrests of three suspects at Toi Primary School polling station and one at Kenyatta Market polling station have reportedly been confirmed by Kibra deputy county commissioner Gideon Ombogi. ____________________
11:47 am
Kenyan national Millicent Mwaura, who has voted from the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala, urges the IEBC to rethink the decision to restrict nationals voting from the diaspora to only the presidential race.
She talked to New Vision's Kellen Owente:
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11:36 am
A video profile of presidential frontrunner William Ruto 👇🏽
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11:33 am
A video profile of presidential frontrunner Raila Odinga 👇🏽
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11:21 am
Earlier today, speaking from Bomas of Kenya, the national tally centre, the vice-chairperson of Kenya's election commission (IEBC), Juliana Cherera, said polling stations where polling delayed to start will be allowed an extension of the same amount of time lost as compensation for the voters. ____________________
11:07 am | PICTURED 📸
An election official verifies a voter's information on the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS) at the Gatina Primary School polling station in Kawangware, Nairobi.
People queue at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to vote.
A man walks out of a polling station at the Moi Avenue Primary School polling station in Nairobi.
Maasai men queue to vote at the Ilbillis Primary School polling station in Kajiado.
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10:50 am
Switching back to Kenya's capital Nairobi, if you were just waking up in Kibra, you would be made to believe that it is still campaigning season.
Raila's supporters have raised dust - literally - as they continue to express vocal support in his praise while and after him voting at Old Kibra Primary School accompanied by his wife Ida.
This is the fifth time Odinga, the son of Kenya's first vice-president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, is running for the presidency.
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10:42 am | Kenyans in Uganda set to vote
New Vision's Lawrence Mulondo reports from Kololo:
Kenyans living in Uganda have come to the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala to participate in the ongoing presidential elections that are happening concurrently back home in Kenya.
Whoever arrives checks for their names on the voter register that has been displayed outside and thereafter presents their national card to the security officers, before being allowed to enter the premises to vote. Journalists have been denied access to the premises on grounds of not being accredited.
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10:25 am | PRES. CANDIDATE WAJACKOYAH IN KAKAMEGA
As Odinga's super-excited voters escort him to his polling station, earlier, one of his three presidential challengers, Prof. George Wajackoyah's voting in Matungu constituency in Kakamega county was delayed due to a systems failure.
The Roots Party leader is a former Police detective who has lived in the UK most of the recent years, and one of his proposals is to legalize marijuana and snake farming. ____________________
10:17 am | Odinga arrives in Kibra to vote
It is an aura of jubilation punctuated with vuvuzela sounds, whistles and chants of "Baba! Baba!", as Raila Odinga's motorcade - flanked by his supporters - snakes into Kibra headed for Old Kibra Primary School, where the presidential candidate is to vote from.
Stay clear if you have ear problems. This is a highly-charged group of supporters that Raila's heavily-built plain-clothes bodyguards are trying so hard to keep in check.
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10:14 am | PICTURED 📸
A Kenyan Police officer assists a disabled voter past a voting queue at a polling station in Kisumu.
Voters queue at the Gatina primary school polling station in Kawangware, Nairobi.
A woman marks her ballot paper in a voting booth at a polling station in Kisumu.
An IEBC official marks the finger of a voter with indelible ink after casting their ballot in Kisumu.
A Kenyan Police officer casts his ballot in Kisumu.
Voters queue to vote at the M.V Patel hall polling station in Eldoret.
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9:50 am | Odinga leaves home to go for vote
Meanwhile, presidential candidate Raila Odinga is leaving his Karen home in the capital Nairobi to head to his polling station for voting.
Speaking to reporters just before departing, the 77-year-old frontrunner, in the company of his wife Ida Betty Odinga, says that "the ball is in the people's court and I am confident that the people of Kenya are going to speak very loudly" in this quest for democratic change.
One reporter turns to his wife, asking her what she thinks of this election and if it is any different from the previous ones.
"I have voted very many times and I am going to vote again....I don't think [it's much different] but I know the result will be different." ____________________
9:43 am | PICTURED 📸
Former president of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan (2nd-R), seen here arriving at a polling station in Kibera, is leading the election observation mission to Kenya.
Also in Nairobi, a Kenyan woman casts her ballot as Police officers look on at a polling station at St. Stephen School in the informal settlement of Mathare.
An Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official uses a biometric fingerprint scanner to check a Maasai voter's identity at the Nailare Primary School polling station in Kilgoris.
A Kenyan woman organizes her ballot papers before casting them at a polling station at St. Stephen School in Mathare.
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9:27 am
At some polling stations, like at St. Stephen School in the informal settlement of Mathare in Nairobi, some voters are organised and patient in queues.
But it is pushing and shoving among other voters.
And lots of arguing among others.
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9:16 am
There is a scramble of reporters as security keeps them at bay at Mutomo Primary School polling station in Gatundu South - and you know that means one thing. The President is around.
The departing Kenyan leader, Uhuru Kenyatta, arrives - accompanied by his wife Margaret - to cast his ballot not long after his mother, Mama Ngina, cast hers at the same polling station. Inside the booth, the 60-year-old fourth president of Kenya slaps on his glasses before ticking his boxes - of course in secret.
Amid camera flashes and clicks from reporters, he then moves on to cast his respective ballots - and then out of the facility to address reporters.
"Vote and vote in peace," he says.
And asked by one reporter if it will be a free and fair poll, Kenyatta responds: "It is every Kenyan's hope that it will be."
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8:52 am
One of Rift Valley's biggest cities, Eldoret, is frontrunner William Ruto's stronghold while the lakeside city of Kisumu is the bastion of his main challenger Raila Odinga.
Ruto, a businessman from the Kalenjin tribe, is an ally-turned-foe of the ruling establishment.
Odinga is popular in the western parts of Kenya, where he is referred to as "Baba" to mean father. He is backed by the ruling Jubilee party.
If he wins, Odinga will become the first Kenyan president from the Luo community.
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8:42 am
From Narok to Bungoma and Nyeri to Kiambu, voters across Kenya are voting for a new set of leaders in a general election that will see President Uhuru Kenyatta pave way and be succeeded after serving at the helm for a constitutionally allowed maximum two terms.
Kenyatta's 89-year-old mother, Ngina Kenyatta, is one of the voters. She is casting her ballot in Gatundu South constituency in Kiambu county.
In her brief remarks after voting, Kenya's very first First Lady says it is important for anyone who can to go out and vote for their desired leaders. ____________________
8:30 am
Polling is also happening at Kenyan missions abroad, including Kenya's High Commission in Kololo in Uganda's capital Kampala.
It is understood that three polling stations are in place to allow the over 1,000 registered Kenyan voters living in Uganda to vote today.
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8:18 am
There are six ballot boxes - with colour-coded covers - for different positions: presidential, member of national assembly, member of county assembly, senator, woman member of national assembly and governor.
It is not a must that a voter has to cast a ballot for each box, but once you have picked six ballot papers, for instance, you must cast all of them. If you choose to pick only two ballot papers for two positions, it is those two papers that you must vote for.
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8:05 am
Reports of network issues being experienced at one polling station in Kasarani in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. ____________________
7:53 am | 'This is a defining moment for Kenya'
"This is a defining moment for the people of Kenya," says 57-year-old Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua, who is the running mate of presidential candidate William Ruto after casting his ballot in Mathira constituency in Nyeri county.
"I am very excited by the high voter turnout. We are very happy and extremely impressed by the level of preparedness of the IEBC," he adds, also hailing the flexibility on the part of the the polling officials. He says his 91-year-old aunt was verified using the manual system as an alternative to the biometric system.
"It is impossible to stuff ballot papers," adds a visibly impressed Gachagua.
"I am happy that Kenyans have a responsibility in defining their destiny."
He calls for a peaceful election process and rallies those at home to "come and be a part of the process of defining their destiny".
"We ask Government and all its institutions to allow its people to express their will." ____________________
7:44 am | WAIHIGA VOTES IN NAIROBI
Agano Party presidential candidate David Mwaure Waihiga has voted from Nairobi, after which he says it is Kenyans' "divine mandate to vote" and makes reference to coming in with sweeping reforms if he is elected to the helm of Kenya's leadership.
"I have dreams. I will come in with a big broom and make Kenya great," he tells reporters after casting his ballot.
Asked what happens if he is defeated, he says: "If I lose, I will concede and if I am near, I will shake the hand of whoever will have won."
Waihiga, who is running on an anti-corruption message, is a lawyer and ordained minister. He is the managing partner and founder of Mwaure & Mwaure Waihiga Advocates. ____________________
7:36 am
Just to remind you that in the presidential race, there will be a run-off held if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote. ____________________
7:30 am
It is one-and-a-half hours into polling and reports are emerging that some polling stations have delayed to open. For others, the process is moving on smoothly.
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7:23 am
Voters look for their names on the voter register at the Ilbissil Primary in Kajiado.
As day breaks, some voters have had to use the light of their phones to check for their names at the Old Kibera Primary School polling station in Kibera.
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7:10 am | Ruto's running mate Gichagua votes
Presidential candidate William Ruto's running mate Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua, wearing a white hat and appearing in good spirits, is preparing to cast his ballot in Mathira constituency in Nyeri county. ____________________
6:51 am
In Kenya's capital Nairobi, this voter is seen holding his ballot papers as he waits to enter the voting booth at the Old Kibera Primary School polling station in Kibera.
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6:33 am | 'Vote peacefully and deliberately'
Addressing reporters after voting, Ruto says he is feeling "very good" and that "this vote is definitive and is going to change the destiny of this country".
"This morning, it is D-day and we have come to vote with my wife and my neighbours and the people in this community. Everybody here wants a peaceful process and we even had a spontaneous prayer - and that prayer was about having a peaceful election.
"I want to ask all voters like myself to do this exercise. Go vote peacefully and intentionally and deliberately so that we can choose the men and women who can take our country to the next level over the next five years.
"I am very confident the people will make choices that will take this country to the next level. In moments like this, is when the mighty and the powerful come to the realisation that it is the ordinary people that make the choices.
"It is upon all of us to respect the choices of the people of Kenya...I look forward to a victorious day.
"I am a very proud Kenyan this morning. I am very confident and I trust in God that this, too, will come home. Let us respect each person's vote, even if it is different from yours," he says.
Turning to Kenya's election commission, Ruto urges the IEBC to exercise its mandate professionally, adding: "We wish you well as you undertake this monumental exercise for the Republic of Kenya." ____________________
6:18 am | 'Make your voice heard'
After casting her ballot, Karua tells reporters she was redirected to another polling station.
"I have voted. Kindly get out and vote. It is our day today to determine which direction our country takes. Make your voice heard. ____________________
6:15 am | RUTO CASTS BALLOT
And in just under 15 minutes, presidential frontrunner William Ruto has cast his ballot at Kosachei Primary School polling station in his rural Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu county. He looks contented - and optimistic - as he walks farther away from the des distance to address the press.
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6:07 am | KARUA VOTES IN KIRINYAGA
Odinga's running mate Martha Karua, who is wearing a jacket, scarf and woolen head cap, is at her polling station in Gichugu in Kirinyaga county busy casting her ballot. ____________________
6:00 am | Ding ding ding! It is polling time!
They said polling would open at exactly 6am - and guess who is first on the line.
Presidential candidate and current deputy-president William Ruto must have had little or no sleep. Accompanied by his wife Rachel, he is already at Kosachei Primary School polling station in his rural Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu county and is about to cast his ballot after starting off with a brief prayer.
Of course all the cameras at the polling station are pointing his way.
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5:56 am | The early birds
Voters left their beds super early this morning to make their way to their respective polling stations.
An IEBCofficial holds up a ballot box to show that it is empty before polls open at the Makina Self Help polling station in Kibera, Nairobi.
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5:50 am | Checking for names
Ahead of election D-day, registered voters spared time to visit their polling stations and scanned the names on the registers displayed for them to check whether they are on the list and in which streams in the polling station they will be voting.
Take a look:
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5:47 am | 'We want a peaceful country'
In the buildup to today's general election, the two frontrunners in the tightly contested presidential race have both urged fellow Kenyans on a peaceful transition.
William Ruto, who has presented himself as the 'hustler in chief', said: "Each Kenyan wherever you are, whatever you do, be a peacemaker. It is a qualification to become a son and a daughter of God."
His main challenger Raila Odinga, who is affectionately called 'Baba' (father) by his supporters, said: "We want a peaceful country, that no life should be lost at the hands of no other person." ____________________
5:42 am | Polling postponed in two counties
Meanwhile, on Monday - the eve of the election - Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati announced the postponement of gubernatorial polls in the counties of Mombasa and Kakamega and election for MP in the Kachiliba and Pokot South constituencies.
Chebukati said this was because of erroneous ballot papers. He made it clear that voting will go ahead for the five other positions being vied for in the two counties, which have 1.5 million registered voters.
The IEBC also said six of the commission's officials had been arrested.
"The commission (...) will not hesitate to take stern action against any official found to be in breach of the code of conduct and Election Offences Act," said Chebukati.
Mombasa county has 641,000 registered voters with a total of 1,041 polling centres. ____________________
5:34 am | Kenyan election hogs headlines
This is a big election in the East African region, and as you would expect, the Kenyan vote has muscled its way onto the front pages of various dailies, including Tuesday's New Vision, whose electronic version (e-paper) you can access 👉🏽 HERE.
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5:30 am | HELLO, HABARI ZENU?
"Let us collectively rise up and show the world that Kenya is a vibrant democracy."
Good morning everyone. Those are the words of the chairman of Kenya's election commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati, on the eve of today's general election.
It is an early morning as a group of voters head to the polling station chanting and singing songs as a celebration for today.
The hours have been obediently ticking down to today, as millions of voters in Kenya descend on polling stations to elect their new president. The election is featuring two frontrunners: current deputy president William Ruto, 55, and ruling party-backed veteran opposition politician Raila Odinga, 77.
Ruto is of the Kenya Kwanza (Kenya first) alliance while Odinga is of Azimio la Umoja Party (One Kenya Coalition Party). One of them will succeed Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured centre), who cannot stand after completing his maximum two years at the helm.
But today's attention will not be only on the presidential vote. Voters will also elect governors, senators, MPs, woman representatives and county officials.
Polling stations officially open starting 6am and close at 5pm.
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