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| Kenyan voters frustrated with delayed results after electronic system fails | Kenyan voters frustrated with delayed results after electronic system fails |
| (10 days later) | |
| Election officials across Kenya transported their local election results to be tallied in the capital on Wednesday after the electronic vote-counting system broke down, while the coalition of a top presidential candidate accused Britain's high commissioner of meddling. | Election officials across Kenya transported their local election results to be tallied in the capital on Wednesday after the electronic vote-counting system broke down, while the coalition of a top presidential candidate accused Britain's high commissioner of meddling. |
| Kenyans were growing increasingly frustrated that the announcements of public vote tallies ceased around 48 hours after polls closed. The breakdown of the electronic vote system has meant less than half of the preliminary results have been released. Officials, working to ensure violence does not break out in this election, are calling for patience. | Kenyans were growing increasingly frustrated that the announcements of public vote tallies ceased around 48 hours after polls closed. The breakdown of the electronic vote system has meant less than half of the preliminary results have been released. Officials, working to ensure violence does not break out in this election, are calling for patience. |
| Kevin Muriunge, a 25-year-old student, said: "The delay is giving rise to conspiracy theories. People are panicking about the delay in the results of the elections. But unlike the last election, there is a level of restraint." | Kevin Muriunge, a 25-year-old student, said: "The delay is giving rise to conspiracy theories. People are panicking about the delay in the results of the elections. But unlike the last election, there is a level of restraint." |
| Referring to long voting lines during Monday's vote, Alojz Peterle, a former president of Slovenia and head of the European Union observer mission, said Kenyans had shown they were capable of great patience. "But even more patience is called for now," he said. | Referring to long voting lines during Monday's vote, Alojz Peterle, a former president of Slovenia and head of the European Union observer mission, said Kenyans had shown they were capable of great patience. "But even more patience is called for now," he said. |
| The election commission chairman announced late on Tuesday that hundreds of thousands of ballots that were rejected for not following the rules would be counted in the overall vote total. That makes it very difficult, given the tight race, for either top candidate to reach the 50% mark needed to win outright. | The election commission chairman announced late on Tuesday that hundreds of thousands of ballots that were rejected for not following the rules would be counted in the overall vote total. That makes it very difficult, given the tight race, for either top candidate to reach the 50% mark needed to win outright. |
| The coalition of the deputy prime minster, Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces charges at the international criminal court (ICC) and is the son of Kenya's founding president, accused the British high commissioner of "shadowy, suspicious and rather animated involvement" in efforts to get the election commission to decide that rejected ballots should still be counted in the overall vote total. | The coalition of the deputy prime minster, Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces charges at the international criminal court (ICC) and is the son of Kenya's founding president, accused the British high commissioner of "shadowy, suspicious and rather animated involvement" in efforts to get the election commission to decide that rejected ballots should still be counted in the overall vote total. |
| Kenyatta's party also asked the high commissioner, Christian Turner, to explain what it called "the sudden upsurge of British military personnel" in Kenya. British troops attend a six-week training course near Mount Kenya before being deployed to Afghanistan. A new battle group arrived the week before Kenyans voted. | Kenyatta's party also asked the high commissioner, Christian Turner, to explain what it called "the sudden upsurge of British military personnel" in Kenya. British troops attend a six-week training course near Mount Kenya before being deployed to Afghanistan. A new battle group arrived the week before Kenyans voted. |
| Britain's Foreign Office said claims of British interference were "entirely false and misleading". The British soldiers in Kenya were part of a regular training programme planned nine months ago "completely unrelated to the Kenyan elections". It said Britain has no position on the rejected votes, saying that the election commission or the courts should decide. | Britain's Foreign Office said claims of British interference were "entirely false and misleading". The British soldiers in Kenya were part of a regular training programme planned nine months ago "completely unrelated to the Kenyan elections". It said Britain has no position on the rejected votes, saying that the election commission or the courts should decide. |
| "We have always said that this election is a choice for Kenyans alone to decide," the Foreign Office said, adding: "We urge all sides to ensure calm, avoid inflammatory statements, and to take any disputes to the courts." | "We have always said that this election is a choice for Kenyans alone to decide," the Foreign Office said, adding: "We urge all sides to ensure calm, avoid inflammatory statements, and to take any disputes to the courts." |
| Kenyans held their first presidential vote on Monday since the nation's disputed election in 2007 spawned violence that killed more than 1,000 people. Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Kenyatta are the top two contenders. | Kenyans held their first presidential vote on Monday since the nation's disputed election in 2007 spawned violence that killed more than 1,000 people. Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Kenyatta are the top two contenders. |
| Election observers from around the world said on Wednesdayyesterday that Kenya carried out a credible election, but the groups reserved final judgments until the election process is completed. Some observers said it appeared a runoff between Odinga and Kenyatta was likely. | Election observers from around the world said on Wednesdayyesterday that Kenya carried out a credible election, but the groups reserved final judgments until the election process is completed. Some observers said it appeared a runoff between Odinga and Kenyatta was likely. |
| The partial preliminary results on Tuesday had shown an early lead for Kenyatta. Odinga's camp told supporters that the votes from his strongholds had not yet all been tallied. | The partial preliminary results on Tuesday had shown an early lead for Kenyatta. Odinga's camp told supporters that the votes from his strongholds had not yet all been tallied. |
| The statement from Kenyatta's coalition on Wednesday implied that the British envoy had pressured the commission to make the decision on the spoiled ballots, thus ensuring a runoff. | The statement from Kenyatta's coalition on Wednesday implied that the British envoy had pressured the commission to make the decision on the spoiled ballots, thus ensuring a runoff. |
| John Stremlau, an election observer with the Carter Center, the body run by former US President Jimmy Carter, said that it might be better for Kenyatta's coalition to use "foreign powers" as a whipping post than attacking Kenyans. | John Stremlau, an election observer with the Carter Center, the body run by former US President Jimmy Carter, said that it might be better for Kenyatta's coalition to use "foreign powers" as a whipping post than attacking Kenyans. |
| "It does seem to me to be a mindset of the old colonial era that the foreign powers would be dictating to the [election commission] in any way," Stremlau said, adding later: "There are going to be accusations in every election ... and they must be backed by evidence. Show the proof and let the judges decide and we'll all be better off." | "It does seem to me to be a mindset of the old colonial era that the foreign powers would be dictating to the [election commission] in any way," Stremlau said, adding later: "There are going to be accusations in every election ... and they must be backed by evidence. Show the proof and let the judges decide and we'll all be better off." |
| Franklin Bett, an official in Odinga's party, echoed that statement. "Talk is easy. Let them come with the evidence," he said. | Franklin Bett, an official in Odinga's party, echoed that statement. "Talk is easy. Let them come with the evidence," he said. |
| William Ruto, Kenyatta's running mate, had also blamed "foreign missions" on Tuesday for swaying the electoral commission on its ballot decision. The decision "is meant to deny us a first-round win", Ruto was quoted as saying. | William Ruto, Kenyatta's running mate, had also blamed "foreign missions" on Tuesday for swaying the electoral commission on its ballot decision. The decision "is meant to deny us a first-round win", Ruto was quoted as saying. |
| Kenya is the lynchpin of east Africa's economy and plays a vital security role in the fight against Somali militants. The US embassy in Kenya is the largest in Africa, indicating the country's importance to American foreign policy. | Kenya is the lynchpin of east Africa's economy and plays a vital security role in the fight against Somali militants. The US embassy in Kenya is the largest in Africa, indicating the country's importance to American foreign policy. |
| The US has warned of "consequences" if Kenyatta is to win, as have several European countries. Because Kenyatta is an ICC indictee, the US and Europe have said they might have to limit contact with him, even if he is president. | The US has warned of "consequences" if Kenyatta is to win, as have several European countries. Because Kenyatta is an ICC indictee, the US and Europe have said they might have to limit contact with him, even if he is president. |
| Aisha Abdullahi, the African Union commissioner for political affairs, said it was good that Kenyan officials had planned for a backup system – the physical tallies of votes – given the breakdown in the electronic transmission system. He blamed the breakdown on a failure of central computer servers. | Aisha Abdullahi, the African Union commissioner for political affairs, said it was good that Kenyan officials had planned for a backup system – the physical tallies of votes – given the breakdown in the electronic transmission system. He blamed the breakdown on a failure of central computer servers. |
| "Yes, we in Africa are trying to catch up with you guys with electronic things. We are not yet as proficient as western Europe or North America," said Festus Mogae in response to a question from a European reporter. Mogae is a former president of Botswana and head of the Commonwealth observer mission. | "Yes, we in Africa are trying to catch up with you guys with electronic things. We are not yet as proficient as western Europe or North America," said Festus Mogae in response to a question from a European reporter. Mogae is a former president of Botswana and head of the Commonwealth observer mission. |
| "That it's failed is no surprise to me. It often does in our countries." | "That it's failed is no surprise to me. It often does in our countries." |
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