- Title: KENYA: Millions set to cast their votes as polls open in Kenya
- Date: 4th March 2013
- Summary: KISUMU, KENYA (MARCH 04, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS VOTERS QUEUING TO VOTE SIGN OF KISUMU TOWN POLLING STATION VOTER BEING HANDED BALLOT PAPERS VARIOUS OF VOTER CASTING BALLOTS SOUNDBITE (Kiswahili) KENYAN VOTER, AUSTIN ONYANGO, SAYING: "I am happy because the process has been very easy unlike we thought. We came here before six as usual as we expected it to be like the pre
- Embargoed: 19th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3QQ0T2GVOGEMMDSKTQ0SHRRMV
- Story Text: Polling stations opened up to Kenyans on Monday (March 4) for a tense presidential election that will test whether the east African nation can repair its damaged reputation after the tribal blood-letting that followed a 2007 poll.
This year's front-runners are Prime Minister Raila Odinga, 68, who lost in the 2007 race, and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, 51.
According to polls, both are running neck-and-neck and well ahead of six other candidates. They will depend heavily on loyalists from rival tribes for votes.
Many voters had queued up hours before sunrise to cast their ballots before polling stations opened at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT).
"I am happy because the process has been very easy unlike we thought. We came here before six as usual as we expected it to be like the previous ones, but the past ones have been a little different. This one is challenging but it is not very difficult. At least people understand the the colours and the ballot boxes," one voter in Kisumu said.
Voting stations close at 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) but voters still lined up at that time are usually allowed to cast their ballots. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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