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Kenyatta wins 98.2% of votes in an election marred by violence, boycott

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Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has won re-election in a presidential poll rerun marred by violence and a boycott by the main opposition coalition.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Monday said Kenyatta won 98.2 percent of the votes cast in the October 26 election, according to results from 265 out of 290 constituencies, plus ballots from the diaspora.
Raila Odinga, leader of the National Super Alliance (NASA) opposition alliance, received 0.9 percent of the votes, according to the IEBC. The remaining votes were shared by the other six candidates who took part in the election.

In a victory speech after the IEBC’s announcement, Kenyatta said the result was a “re-validation” of the voters’ will following the annulment of the August 8 poll.

“This was nothing more than … a statement of their national intent,” he said.

“The people of Kenya have decided, the IEBC have made their announcement as to the verdict in a free and fair democratic election,” added the 55-year-old president.

Odinga is expected to deliver a speech on Tuesday.

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The election was marked by a low turnout with many voters not showing up to cast their ballots.

According to the IEBC, 38.84 percent of the registered voters turned up to cast their ballot, meaning 7.6 million of the 19.6 million registered voters.

The poll was not held in 25 constituencies across four counties – Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori – following a boycott call by NASA saying that the election would not be free and fair.

The electoral body postponed the rerun election in the opposition strongholds because of “security challenges” after violent protests that left at least eight people dead and 30 others wounded.

Earlier on Monday, the IEBC had said the boycott in the four counties did not have an impact on the poll.

“The results of the election shall not be affected by voting in the electoral areas where the election was postponed,” Consolata Nkatha, deputy chairperson of the IEBC, said.

 

 

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