Kenyatta declared Presidential election winner

30 Octobre 2017

Nairobi, Kenya, October 30 (Infosplusgabon) - Kenya's electoral body declared Uhuru Kenyatta re-elected on Monday, with 98.26% of the vote, at the end of a repeat Presidential election which followed the nullification of the 8 Aug Presidential vote.

President Kenyatta said the vote and its outcome was a validation of his victory and a celebration of Kenya's democratic resilience.

"It is the general will of the people," Kenyatta said after pocketing the winners certificate from Wafula Chebukati, Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Kenyatta got 7.4 million votes, 98.26% of the votes cast, equal to 40% of the voters.

President Kenyatta took on his rival Raila Odinga, saying he decided to abscond from the Presidential race, before fulfilling the consequences of his choice to challenge the polls.

President Kenyatta said he was anticipating challenges to the election in Court.

Kenyatta said the outcome of the elections on 26 Oct was done within the confines of the law.

"All of this was done within the confines of the rule of law to validate my victory," Kenyatta said.

Before announcing the results, Chairman of the IEBC Wafula Chebukati, said politicians and other players had targeted him as their "punching-bag" even for challenges brought about by the national politics.

"We are transiting through one of the most difficult and unchartered waters. Indeed, our future has been tested," Chebukati said.

The political environment in the country has been charged, punctuated by acts of violence.

On Monday, the convoy of acting interior minister, Fred Matiang'i, was stoned in Nairobi's Kawangware slums when he visited a school there to check on the preparations for the elections.

At least 70 people have been killed in the aftermath of the 8 Aug elections, according to opposition coalition, NASA.

Chebukati regretted the loss of lives, including those of children, teenegers and adults.

Several children were taken ill as a result of teargas used by the Police to respond to protestors in some homes, especially in Kisumu.

There were no elections in some areas, including in Western Kenya, with about 2 million voters.

The IEBC said it declared the results after determining that the four couvote would not affect the outcome.

"The road to 26 Oct was not easy," Kenyatta said.

Chebukati said it was impossible to carry out the electoral process in Western Kenya.

"I was aware my performance would be determined by the political environment. The prosperity depends on all of us. I watched on television as people seeking a punching bag found it on me. I have been called names," Chebukati said.

He said he swore to defend the law and was not prepared to break any laws.

The election chief said the country needed to find out a solution to the electoral challenges.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/OPL/GABON 2017

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