Tight race in Kenya as presidential vote tally nears end
- 11 years ago
The vote count for Kenya's presidential election continues on Friday as Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta battle for the lead.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL AND BOUNDARIES COMMISSION (IEBC) COMMISSIONER, ALBERT BWIRE, SAYING:
"Raila Odinga 42,185, Uhuru Kenyatta 15,109. Total votes cast 59,752."
There are hopes the count will be concluded on Friday but the process could drag on until Monday when the results must be declared by law.
The 51-year-old Kenyatta has kept an early lead since results started trickling in last Monday but some strongholds for Odinga have yet to declare and the race is tight.
Counting has been slow with a new electronic system plagued by hitches - votes are now being counted manually.
Kenyans are hoping the vote will restore their country's image as one of Africa's more stable democracies after 1200 were killed in election violence five years ago.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NAIROBI RESID
(SOUNDBITE)(English) INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL AND BOUNDARIES COMMISSION (IEBC) COMMISSIONER, ALBERT BWIRE, SAYING:
"Raila Odinga 42,185, Uhuru Kenyatta 15,109. Total votes cast 59,752."
There are hopes the count will be concluded on Friday but the process could drag on until Monday when the results must be declared by law.
The 51-year-old Kenyatta has kept an early lead since results started trickling in last Monday but some strongholds for Odinga have yet to declare and the race is tight.
Counting has been slow with a new electronic system plagued by hitches - votes are now being counted manually.
Kenyans are hoping the vote will restore their country's image as one of Africa's more stable democracies after 1200 were killed in election violence five years ago.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NAIROBI RESID