KENYA: Millions of Kenyans go to the polls in a close-fought national election marred by delays, sporadic trouble and rigging charges from the opposition

Record ID: 360716

  • Title: KENYA: Millions of Kenyans go to the polls in a close-fought national election marred by delays, sporadic trouble and rigging charges from the opposition
  • Date: 27th December 2007
  • Summary: (W2) NAIROBI, KENYA (DECEMBER 27, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF QUEUES OUTSIDE POLLING STATION ARMED POLICEMAN STANDING NEXT TO QUEUE PEOPLE VOTING (SOUNDBITE) (Kiswahili) JANE MULEE, VOTER, SAYING: "We have had some problems because since morning we have been queuing but then you stand in line when you get close, you are told it is the wrong line and you have to go and line
  • Embargoed: 11th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3R1BBM5GMAEB8ZUZXIKF5047K
  • Story Text: Kenyan voters went to the polls on Thursday (December 27) to elect a new president and parliament with delays in some locations and charges from the main opposition candidate that the government was trying to rig the result.
    Millions of people from the humid coast to the shantytowns and lush highlands turned out in force, forming huge queues at polling stations guarded by armed police.
    The presidential contest -- likely to be the closest in four decades of independence from Britain -- pits 76-year-old President Mwai Kibaki against former ally Raila Odinga, 62.
    Kibaki, whose National Rainbow Coalition unseated Kenya's 39-year ruling party in 2002, faces the possibility of losing his re-election bid despite a sound economic record and the backing of his Kikuyu tribe, the country's biggest.
    Many of the 14 million eligible voters began queuing three hours before polling stations opened at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT), but delays raised tempers in areas including Odinga's constituency.
    After complaining to the ECK (Electoral Commission of Kenya) that his name was missing from the voters' register, Odinga was mobbed by fans as he returned to vote at his polling station in Kibera, Kenya's biggest slum.
    He had earlier told KTN TV the mix-up was "a deliberate attempt" by the government to rig the outcome in his constituency.
    The EU said so far it had no evidence of vote fraud.
    The ECK agreed to extend voting by two hours there and at another polling station nearby, Kenya's Election Chairman, Samuel Kivuitu arrived to try and calm tempers but was heckled by crowds outside. They shouted 'we want to vote' at the chairman who was later whisked away by security.
    In a race heavily influenced by tribal politics, most commentators say that Kalonzo, from the small Kamba community, does not command the massive block vote Odinga has among his Luo people and Kibaki among the Kikuyu.
    Kibaki voted near his home in Othaya, a fertile central region of tea and coffee farms. He said he was sure of victory.
    Among those calling for peaceful elections were some from the Maasai community.
    Maasai's are mainly a pastoralist community, surviving on their animals and moving from place to place in search of pasture. Many said they were hoping for a leader who will help them in the future.

    "We wanted to vote peacefully so no we wait to see what will happen, if the future is good. We want to choose leaders who have our future interests at heart," said Daniel Chimbai, who was voting in the Kajiado north constituency located in Rift Valley.

    "Kenyans have really come out in their numbers and we are peaceful, and we are committed to seeing through these elections," said an unidentified voter also in Kajiado.
    First official results were expected on Friday (December 28).
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