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Kenya election: Uhuru Kenyatta wins presidency | Kenya election: Uhuru Kenyatta wins presidency |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Kenya's Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has been confirmed as the winner of the presidential election. | Kenya's Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has been confirmed as the winner of the presidential election. |
Mr Kenyatta won 50.07% of the vote on a turnout of 86%, officials said, narrowly avoiding a run-off ballot. | Mr Kenyatta won 50.07% of the vote on a turnout of 86%, officials said, narrowly avoiding a run-off ballot. |
But main rival Raila Odinga alleged massive vote-rigging and said he would challenge the results of the "tainted election" in the Supreme Court. | |
Mr Kenyatta is set to face trial at the International Criminal Court over violence that followed the 2007 polls. | |
He is accused of fuelling the communal violence that saw more than 1,000 people killed and 600,000 forced from their homes. | He is accused of fuelling the communal violence that saw more than 1,000 people killed and 600,000 forced from their homes. |
'System failures' | |
The IEBC said the latest elections had been complex and difficult - but also credible and transparent. | |
It said the turnout was the largest ever. | It said the turnout was the largest ever. |
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Issack Hassan said that Kenyans had voted "calmly, patiently, proudly and peacefully in the full glare of whole world". | Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Issack Hassan said that Kenyans had voted "calmly, patiently, proudly and peacefully in the full glare of whole world". |
Announcing the final vote count, he said: "I therefore declare Uhuru Kenyatta the duly elected president of the Republic of Kenya." | Announcing the final vote count, he said: "I therefore declare Uhuru Kenyatta the duly elected president of the Republic of Kenya." |
Mr Hassan praised the candidates who had already conceded defeat and urged others to follow suit. | Mr Hassan praised the candidates who had already conceded defeat and urged others to follow suit. |
However, Mr Odinga, the current prime minister, said the electoral commission had "failed Kenyans" and that democracy itself was "on trial". | |
But after announcing his Supreme Court challenge, he also appealed for calm, saying: "Any violence could destroy this nation forever." | |
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Nairobi says this was the tightest of races with the narrowest of margins. | |
He says that how Mr Odinga now handles his supporters will determine whether his dispute stays in the courts or spills out on the streets. | |
Both candidates have complained of irregularities during the course of the count since Monday's election. | |
Court process | |
Mr Kenyatta's Jubilee Coalition party said it was "proud and honoured for the trust" bestowed on it, adding that it had taken a message to the people and that "we are grateful to the people of Kenya for accepting this message". | Mr Kenyatta's Jubilee Coalition party said it was "proud and honoured for the trust" bestowed on it, adding that it had taken a message to the people and that "we are grateful to the people of Kenya for accepting this message". |
Early on Saturday, small groups of Kenyatta supporters celebrated in Nairobi, hooting car horns and singing. | Early on Saturday, small groups of Kenyatta supporters celebrated in Nairobi, hooting car horns and singing. |
But the newly confirmed president could face difficult relations with Western countries. | But the newly confirmed president could face difficult relations with Western countries. |
He faces trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in July for crimes against humanity. | He faces trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in July for crimes against humanity. |
Mr Kenyatta's running mate, William Ruto, also faces similar charges. Both men deny the accusations. | Mr Kenyatta's running mate, William Ruto, also faces similar charges. Both men deny the accusations. |
The ICC has agreed to postpone Mr Ruto's trial by a month until May after his lawyers complained of not having enough time to prepare his defence. | The ICC has agreed to postpone Mr Ruto's trial by a month until May after his lawyers complained of not having enough time to prepare his defence. |
Countries including the US and UK have hinted that Mr Kenyatta's election as president would have consequences for their relations with Kenya - comments which have been dismissed in Nairobi as unwanted foreign interference in domestic matters. | Countries including the US and UK have hinted that Mr Kenyatta's election as president would have consequences for their relations with Kenya - comments which have been dismissed in Nairobi as unwanted foreign interference in domestic matters. |
Kenya's new electronic voting system was designed to eliminate the chance of vote-rigging and with it any risk of a repeat of the post-poll violence of 2007. | Kenya's new electronic voting system was designed to eliminate the chance of vote-rigging and with it any risk of a repeat of the post-poll violence of 2007. |
But the count has been plagued with technical glitches, including a programming error that led to the number of rejected votes being multiplied by a factor of eight. | But the count has been plagued with technical glitches, including a programming error that led to the number of rejected votes being multiplied by a factor of eight. |
The prime minister's Cord alliance had earlier complained that votes from 11 constituencies were missing, in effect leaving him more than 250,000 votes short. | The prime minister's Cord alliance had earlier complained that votes from 11 constituencies were missing, in effect leaving him more than 250,000 votes short. |
Both men passed a second condition needed for victory - at least 25% of the vote in more than half of the 47 counties. | Both men passed a second condition needed for victory - at least 25% of the vote in more than half of the 47 counties. |
Are you in Kenya? What is your reaction to the result? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Kenya? What is your reaction to the result? Send us your comments using the form below. |