KENYA: Appeal for calm before celebrations as only one third of presidential votes yet counted

Record ID: 362548

  • Title: KENYA: Appeal for calm before celebrations as only one third of presidential votes yet counted
  • Date: 5th March 2013
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (MARCH 05, 2013) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) KALONZO MUSYOKA, RUNNING MATE IN THE COALITION FOR REFORMS AND DEMOCRACY (CORD), AND SUPPORTERS ARRIVING FOR THE NEWS CONFERENCE KALONZO MUSYOKA ADDRESSING THE JOURNALISTS JOURNALISTS TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) CORD PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE, KALONZO MUSYOKA, SAYING: "We note will worry
  • Embargoed: 20th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7WX5GO4SA83OFO2KGYUAIYIZD
  • Story Text: One of Kenya's leading coalitions in the presidential elections on Tuesday (March 05, 2013) urged opponents to refrain from premature celebrations since only a third of the results had been announced by the electoral commission.
    The Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) led by Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka called upon opponents to refrain from early celebrations to avoid confusing the electorate.
    Kalonzo Musyoka told the media in Nairobi that only a third of the votes had been counted and therefore there was not need for opponents to start celebrating.
    "We note will worry that there are those amongst our competitors who have not resisted the temptation to engage in premature celebrations that are neither based on data or, nor on fact. The facts of the situation are that only approximately one third of all provisional results have been announced.," he said.
    Kalonzo also urged for calm and peace as the country awaits for the final tally of the votes adding that his coalition would win the elections.
    "We wish to appeal for calm and call on our supporters to relax because we are confident that after all votes are in CORD will carry the day," he said.
    Uhuru leading the Jubilee coalition and who faces international charges of crimes against humanity linked to the last election, was ahead of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
    But Kenyatta could still be overhauled as the count goes on in a vote Kenyans hope will restore their nation's image as one of Africa's most stable democracies after the bloodshed five years ago.
    End.
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