By Collins Mwai , The NewTimes.
Incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta took an early lead in the Kenyan elections held Tuesday.
Kenyatta contested against 7 other candidates with opposition candidate Raila Amollo Odinga, the flag bearer of the National Super Alliance (NASA) as the closest challenger.
With over 70 per cent of the votes tallied, Kenyatta leading with 54 per cent against Odinga’s 44 per cent.
In a news conference held after midnight in Nairobi, Odinga rejected the partial result, blaming his loss to a “system failure.”
The system has failed,” Odinga told reporters. “This is basically the computer that is voting.”
About 19.6 million Kenyans flocked the over 40,000 polling stations across the nation to cast their ballot in an election that besides the president, involves five other leaders.
The other leaders are county governors, senators, members of parliament, women representatives and members of county assemblies.
Polling stations opened at around 06:00 a.m. Kenyan time and closed at 5:00 p.m. Voting was however extended in areas where the exercise kicked off late.
Kenyans over 18 years old were eligible to vote, but one had to be a registered voter to be allowed to cast a ballot.
Kenyans living in Rwanda also cast their vote from the High Commission located in Kacyiru.
To avoid a runoff, the winner will have to get 50 per cent plus one vote.
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