Kenya votes: Uhuru takes early lead, IEBC says tallying a 'critical phase'

Kenya

Incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta has taken an early lead in highly anticipated presidential polls in the Kenya.

With over half of the polling station results relayed, Kenyatta is leading his main rival, ex Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.

Initial figures on the electoral body’s website shows that as at midnight of the day of vote (August 8), the 55-year-old businessman was leading with some 55% of votes reported – in figures he has amassed as many as 5.83 million plus votes.

His main challenger, Raila Amolo Odinga, was second with over 4.65 million votes representing 44.02% of votes counted. As at early Wednesday morning the breakdown of results looked as follows:

Reporting Polling Stations: 29209 out of 40883
Turnout : 57.21 %
Registered voters: 19611423
Valid Votes: 10937555
Disputed Votes: 2029
Rejected Votes: 282624

Phase 1 successful, ‘most critical stage’ underway – IEBC

The elections body, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in its last briefing for the day of vote described the tallying and transmission process as the ‘most critical moment in the election cycle.

“We have now concluded phase 1 of the election exercise, which entailed Kenyans turning up in large numbers to exercise their democratic and civic right.

“We now enter the most critical moment in the election cycle – tallying of votes for all the six elective positions – President, Woman Member of National Assembly, Governor, Senator, Member of Parliament, and Member of County Assembly,” an IEBC statement said.

They confirmed that to secure the credibility of the process, polling stations tallying was being done in the presence of candidates and political party agents, election observers and media.

“During this critical phase, we urge all Kenyans to exercise restraint as we await official results from the polling stations and indeed as they start tricking in,” they added.

The Commission has put in place a live public portal – where members of public can track the results. “The portal is dynamic and will refresh as results stream in,” the IEBC noted.