Kenya counts votes after violence-hit polls
Estimated figures compiled by election board after polling pointed to 48 per cent
Nairobi, Oct. 27: As polling officials tallied votes, Kenyans counted the cost on Friday of a deeply-divisive election marred by an opposition boycott and protests that left at least four dead and scores wounded.
The country’s second presidential election in three months descended into chaos on Thursday as supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga attempted to block voting, clashing with police who fired tear gas, water cannon and live bullets.
The vote came after a two-month political drama that began when the Supreme Court overturned the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta in August 8 elections due to “irregularities”.
Although the ruling was initially hailed as a chance to deepen democracy in one of east Africa’s most stable nations, its impact quickly soured, unleashing weeks of angry protests, acrimonious political rhetoric and intimidation of election officials.
And Mr Odinga’s boycott of the re-run, on grounds the election commission had failed to make the necessary changes to ensure a free and fair vote, has assured Kenyatta a landslide victory.
But as votes continued to be tallied on Friday difficult questions remained over the credibility of an election boycotted by a large part of the 19 million registered voters.
Estimated figures compiled by the election board after polling shut pointed to a turnout of 48 percent, said election chief Wafula Chebukati.
Kenya’s leading Daily Nation newspaper said the low turnout would mean “a serious question of legitimacy for the winner.”
It would be a huge fall from the nearly 80 percent rate in the August poll and proof the opposition boycott had held. That first disputed election was won by Kenyatta but overturned in an unprecedented court ruling that has sparked weeks of protest and acrimonious debate.
While the August election saw long queues of voters and ballots being cast long after closing time in some places, Thursday’s vote was a different story with many polling stations empty or welcoming only a trickle of people.
On Friday morning Mr Chebukati said the central tally centre in Nairobi had received results sheets from 90 percent of polling stations nationwide.
However, he had been forced to postpone the election until Saturday in four protest-hit counties in the country’s west where Mr Odinga enjoys overwhelming support.
The move, he said, was due to “security-related” challenges. But the governor of Kisumu, an opposition stronghold in western Kenya where violence raged on Thursday, rejected the move, saying people would not vote while they were “mourning”.
He said he had invited Mr Odinga and top leaders of his National Super Alliance coalition (NASA) to visit the city on Friday.
— AFP