Kenyan election authorities on Monday neared a constitutional deadline to announce the results of a close presidential race.
The August 9 election saw two candidates run almost neck-and-neck — Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
A tally published by the mass-circulation Daily Nation newspaper showed, based on results from more than 80% of constituencies, that Ruto was edging ahead.
The incumbent deputy president was leading with slightly more than 51% of the vote, while Odinga had 48%. Play Video2:54 min
Tensions rise as Kenya waits for election results
How do elections work in Kenya?
All eyes were on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Monday as it came under pressure to declare the results from 290 constituencies.
Under Kenya’s constitution, the IEBC has up to seven days to announce the results, meaning that they must be out by Tuesday at the latest.
For a candidate to win the presidential race, they need to receive 50%+1 of the votes.
Besides electing the president, Kenyans last week cast their votes for some 1,882 legislators and local officials.
The election saw a low turnout, with about 65% of the 22.1 million registered voters casting their ballots, according to the IEBC. The turnout in the 2017 election was nearly 80%.
Who are the front runners?
Ruto has served as deputy president since 2013. His boss, outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta, endorsed Odniga in this presidential election.
Kenyatta’s support for Odinga, a longtime opposition figure, effectively made Ruto run as the challenger. His lead is seen as a symbol of discontent with Kenyatta’s legacy.
Ruto has pledged to implement a new bottom-up economic model, with a focus on Kenya’s informal workers’ sector.
The 55-year-old previously served as minister of home affairs, minister of agriculture, and minister of higher education.
Odinga, 77, is making his fifth bid for the top job, after losing in 1997, 2007, 2013, and 2017.
The veteran opposition leader has also pledged to reform the economy in the East African nation.
KENYA’S 2022 ELECTION IN PICTURES. Long queues Voters queue before casting their ballots during the general election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the Kibera slums of Nairobi.
