NAIROBI: Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta won 98 per cent of the vote in a repeat presidential election in Kenya, although only 39 per cent of voters turned out due to an opposition boycott, the electoral commission said on Monday.
The announcement touched off small protests in a few opposition strongholds, but also celebrations in pro-Kenyatta areas of the east African country. Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga had already branded the election a farce.
Given the deeply polarised atmosphere, some Kenyans fear that the violence seen so far is starting to take on ethnic overtones.
In his victory speech, Kenyatta repeated his belief that his victory in the original August 8 election — later nullified by the Supreme Court due to a string of irregularities — was legitimate and said dialogue would have to wait if the opposition was going to lodge court cases again.
“My victory today is just part of a process that is likely to once again be subjected to a constitutional test through our courts... I will submit to this constitutional path regardless of the outcome,” Kenyatta said. — Reuters
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