admin
Mission (AU-EOM) said Kenyans voted massively and peacefully to elect their president for the next five years.
“Despite challenges in the unfolding of the electoral process, the AU-EOM noted with satisfaction the serenity with which the process was held,” the statement said.
The AU-EOM said it was impressed with the high voter turnout and enthusiasm apart from some isolated violent incidences which they said did not jeopardise the electoral process as a whole.
Kenyans voted on Monday to elect a president from eight candidates who have thrown their hat in the ring.
The front runners in the presidential race are Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is running on Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta who is gunning for the seat on a Jubilee Alliance ticket.
So far in the results which have been relayed live from the IEBC national rallying centre, Kenyatta was still leading followed closely by Odinga with about 30 percent of the results having been counted.
Both candidates have exuded confidence of victory in the first round and each calling on their competitor to concede defeat.
“Security was well handled by the police forces despite breaches,” the observe mission said after about 16 people were killed and others injured when some members of the Coast-based secessionist group attacked six police officers in Mombasa on Sunday evening.
At a local polling station in Nairobi, some voters told the AU Observer Team led by President Joachim Chissano that they had been queuing since 10 p.m. the day before.
“Extremely long queues, over a kilometre, were observed. President Chissano’s team witnessed the official opening of the poll at Moi Primary School at 6 a.m,” it said.
The AU teams deployed in Nairobi and throughout the country all commended the peaceful process and were impressed by the patience of voters.
The AU-EOM commended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for the preparation and plans put in place ahead of the elections. As results trickle in, the public is able to follow live through various media outlets the tallying process.
The AU said it hosted a meeting of Heads of Election Observation Missions to Kenya yesterday, chaired by President Chissano, to share preliminary findings.
“During this meeting, all leaders commended the people of Kenya for their commitment to holding successful General Elections,” the statement said.
Over 22,600 observers, both local and international have been accredited by Kenya’s electoral body to oversee the elections and have since spread to the ground ahead of the polls. – Xinhua.
Online Reporter