KENYA: Pollling stations close after day of long queues for voters, counting starts

Record ID: 362508

  • Title: KENYA: Pollling stations close after day of long queues for voters, counting starts
  • Date: 4th March 2013
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (MARCH 4, 2013) (REUTERS) VIEW OF POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF LAST VOTERS GOING THROUGH VOTING PROCESS VARIOUS OF VOTERS CASTING BALLOTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEDAN NJAU, PRESIDING OFFICER, STREAM 8 POLLING STATION SAYING: "Since the time we started in the morning, the electoral process in Stream 8 has been wonderful, we had a very long queue and we have
  • Embargoed: 19th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADM5SH04GIF674KL05BD410B9E
  • Story Text: Polls closed after a day of slow voting in Kenya on Monday (March 4) with many of the long queues witnessed earlier in the day reduced to a trickle at most polling stations across the country.
    Kenyans lined up to vote in the presidential election they hope will rebuild the nation's image after a disputed 2007 poll unleashed weeks of tribal bloodshed.
    Provisional results could emerge hours after the official poll 5 p.m. (1400GMT) closing time given by the election commission, although the body has seven days to announce the official outcome.
    "Since the time we started in the morning, the electoral process in stream 8 has been wonderful, we had a very long queue and we have already managed to clear each and every voter who turned out to vote," said Dedan Njau, polling station presiding officer.
    Polls suggest the two top candidates Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta will struggle to secure an outright win, which could make for a tense run-off.
    "We have sealed all our ballot boxes and in front of the agents and also political... and also observers and now the next move will be rearranging this hall for the counting," said Njau.
    Alongside the presidential race, there are hotly contested elections for senators, county governors, members of parliament, women representatives in county assemblies and civic leaders.
    Just hours before the start of voting and with long lines across the east African country, at least nine security officers in Kenya's restive coastal region were hacked to death, and six attackers were also killed, authorities said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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