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Kenyans vote amid fears of fraud Kenyans vote amid fears of fraud
(40 minutes later)
Long queues of voters are waiting to cast their ballots, as Kenyans choose a president in an atmosphere marred by accusations of poll rigging.Long queues of voters are waiting to cast their ballots, as Kenyans choose a president in an atmosphere marred by accusations of poll rigging.
President Mwai Kibaki is seeking a second term, in what is seen as the tightest election in Kenya's history.President Mwai Kibaki is seeking a second term, in what is seen as the tightest election in Kenya's history.
"I have not even milked my cow because today we are putting our country first," said Mary Muthoni Gikiri as she waited to vote. Turnout seems to be high in many areas but voting has been delayed for hours in parts of the Nairobi slum of Kibera.
Mr Kibaki faces his toughest challenge from his former ally, Raila Odinga. Mr Kibaki's closest challenger Raila Odinga has not been able to vote in Kibera - his parliamentary seat.
Mr Odinga has been the front-runner in opinion polls in recent weeks - yet his team has accused the president's side of dirty tricks. "His name and other names are not there, so I think he has gone to ECK [Electoral Commission of Kenya] now. He will definitely come back and vote," Jack Okinyi of Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) told Reuters news agency.
Mr Odinga has been the front runner in opinion polls in recent weeks - yet his team has accused the president's side of dirty tricks.
European Union election observers have urged the ECK to extend voting by two hours because of the delays.
'Rumours''Rumours'
But across the country, people have been turning up in large numbers to vote.
I can see people shaking their fists BBC's Ruth Nesoba, Kibera Reporters' logVoters' logVote in pictures
"I have not even milked my cow because today we are putting our country first," said Mary Muthoni Gikiri as she waited to vote in Mr Kibaki's hometown of Othaya, some 200km (125 miles) from the capital, Nairobi.
The queue of voters stretches for more than a kilometre outside one Nairobi polling station.The queue of voters stretches for more than a kilometre outside one Nairobi polling station.
I can see people shaking their fists BBC's Ruth Nesoba, Kibera Reporters' logVoters' log
In the western town of Kisumu, the line of people at a primary school goes across a football pitch.In the western town of Kisumu, the line of people at a primary school goes across a football pitch.
But in the slum of Kibera, tempers are fraying at one polling station, as voting has not started some four hours late. But in Kibera, tempers are fraying at one polling station, as voting has not started some five hours late.
But generally, turnout looks to be high, according to chief EU election monitor Alexander Graf Lambsdorff. The BBC's Karen Allen says there is chaos and confusion there.
But she says security is tight in what is seen as an opposition stronghold.
Evidence
Generally, turnout looks to be high, according to chief EU election monitor Alexander Graf Lambsdorff.
"According to reports from across the country, voting is relatively calm and Kenyans are turning up in great numbers to vote," he told the AFP news agency."According to reports from across the country, voting is relatively calm and Kenyans are turning up in great numbers to vote," he told the AFP news agency.
Earlier, he invited anyone with evidence of election fraud to come forward. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7079210.stm">Kibaki: Dream or nightmare? class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7068055.stm">Odinga: King-maker Earlier, he invited anyone with evidence of election fraud to come forward.
"As far as allegations of rigging are concerned, they are just that - allegations," he told the BBC."As far as allegations of rigging are concerned, they are just that - allegations," he told the BBC.
Mr Odinga's supporters have accused the president of using state security agents to help rig the polls.Mr Odinga's supporters have accused the president of using state security agents to help rig the polls.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7079210.stm">Kibaki: Dream or nightmare? class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7068055.stm">Odinga: King-maker Three police officers were killed in Kisumu, after the opposition alleged that they were carrying pre-marked ballot papers. Three police officers were killed in Kisumu, after the opposition alleged that they were carrying pre-marked ballot papers.
The president has denied having any involvement in election fraud.The president has denied having any involvement in election fraud.
More than 14 million Kenyans are eligible to vote - they are also voting in parliamentary and local elections.More than 14 million Kenyans are eligible to vote - they are also voting in parliamentary and local elections.
President Kibaki, running under the banner of a broad-based coalition known as the Party of National Unity, hopes his economic record will secure a second term.President Kibaki, running under the banner of a broad-based coalition known as the Party of National Unity, hopes his economic record will secure a second term.
Mr Odinga, who heads the Orange Democratic Movement, played a key role in Mr Kibaki's 2002 victory. Mr Odinga, who heads ODM, played a key role in Mr Kibaki's 2002 victory.
But the pair fell out soon afterwards.But the pair fell out soon afterwards.
Mr Kibaki's critics accuse him of failing to keep his promise to tackle corruption.Mr Kibaki's critics accuse him of failing to keep his promise to tackle corruption.
There are eight candidates standing in the presidential elections.There are eight candidates standing in the presidential elections.


Email your observations by clicking on the link below. Email us your voting experiencesEmail your observations by clicking on the link below. Email us your voting experiences
Or you can text us your election day observations to +44 7786 20 50 85 but please remember to tell us your name and where you are.Or you can text us your election day observations to +44 7786 20 50 85 but please remember to tell us your name and where you are.