KENYA: Deputy President William Ruto and Raila Odinga are running neck and neck in the Kenya General Election as the counting continues.
With about 3.8 million votes so far tallied, Ruto, who is vying for the presidential seat on the UDA ticket, has remained slightly ahead, polling 1,845,622 (49.51%) against Raila Odinga’s 1,829,737 (49.08%). George Wajackoyah has 16,964 (0.45%) while David Waihiga has 7,479 (0.20%).
These Provisional Presidential Results were as of 2:00 pm.
The winner of presidential elections needs 50% + 1 of the valid votes cast and at least 25% votes in more than 24 counties. If neither hits the 50% plus one mark, a runoff will be triggered.
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The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition running mate Martha Karua through her Twitter account said that the deal was not yet done, even as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) continues to tally the presidential results at the Bomas of Kenya.
“It’s not done till it’s done,” Karua said.
The presidential election was marked by low turnout and a great deal of cynicism. Two hours before the polls closed on Tuesday, the commission at 4 p.m. local time (1300GMT) recorded a 56.17% voter turnout, figures which cannot compare to Kenya’s past two elections.
Kenya’s voting process was run across 46,229 polling stations, and the public cast ballots for the president, governors, members of parliament, and members of county assemblies.
The general elections are being monitored by 18,000 observers, including 1,300 international observers.
Odinga, who is seeking the presidency with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance party, and his running mate Martha Karua, 64, have promised a government that focuses on manufacturing to promote wealth and fight unemployment.
Ruto, who is running for president with his Kenya Kwanza coalition, says his government will focus on transforming the country’s economy to achieve durable growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability and empowering the people at the bottom of the pyramid.
