Fears of tribal war heighten as Kenyan opposition rejects election result

There are fears that a possible tribal war may break out in Kenya after the opposition party led by Raila Odinga rejected the outcome of Tuesday’s election, demanding instead that the electoral commission grant it access to see raw data on its computer servers before it could accept the results.

“If they can open those servers, and we all look at it, we are prepared to accept the results of what is contained in those servers,” James Orengo, chief election agent for the NASA opposition coalition, told reporters.

However, Yakub Guliye, election commissioner in charge of information technology, said the opposition had not made a formal request to that effect.

Read also: KENYA DECIDES: 3 feared dead during protests over election fraud claims

“It was a verbal request and we don’t act on verbal requests. We are yet to receive a formal request,” he told reporters. Normal procedure calls for the commission to release final results after cross checking its electronic tally with paper forms.

Hours ago, the Kenyan election commission also denied opposition claims of digital fraud as final vote results are expected on Friday.

Reports say there is palpable fear in the land as many Kenyans are scared that the dispute would lead to violent protests after more than 1,000 people were killed following the last bloody election recorded in 2007.

Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was on Friday declared winner of the presidential poll by the electoral commission.

He has been in office since 2013 and won a second five-year term with 54.27 per cent of the vote, followed by 72-year-old opposition leader, Raila Odinga with 44.74 per cent.

The results were announced by the Electoral Commission Chairman, Wafula Chebukati after collations were done from the East African nation’s 290 constituencies.

 

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