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Odinga, Ruto Neck & Neck in Kenya's Presidential Race, Early Official Tally Shows

© AFP 2023 / YASUYOSHI CHIBAA Maasai man and woman wait for assistance with the voting process during Kenya's general election at Nailare primary school polling station in Kilgoris, Kenya, on August 9, 2022
A Maasai man and woman wait for assistance with the voting process during Kenya's general election at Nailare primary school polling station in Kilgoris, Kenya, on August 9, 2022 - Sputnik International, 1920, 14.08.2022
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Kenya's general election was held on 9 August 2022, with four candidates vying to be president to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta, who has served since April 2013 and who is obliged to stand down because of the constitutional limit on presidential terms. Voters also cast ballots for governors, senators, MPs and county assembly members.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto are running neck and neck in Kenya’s presidential race, early official results show. Ruto has taken a slight lead over Odinga, garnering 51 percent of votes against 48 percent cast for his rival with more than a third of the results confirmed.
Earlier, Odinga was seen straining ahead, with 54 percent opposed to the 45 percent of votes cast for Ruto after more than 26 percent of ballots had been counted, according to the Kenyan election commission tally at midday on Saturday.
East Africa's wealthiest nation held presidential, parliamentary and local elections on 9 August, with more than 22 million Kenyans eligible to cast ballots.
According to Reuters news agency, which has tallied 241 forms from 291 constituencies posted online, Ruto is in the lead with nearly 52.3 percent of the vote, compared with 47 percent for Odinga, and two other candidates with less than 1 percent between them as of 21:00 GMT on Saturday.
Ruto and Odinga have been facing off in a tight race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is stepping down after serving since April 2013, because of constitutional two-term limits.
On Wednesday, Kenyatta officially endorsed his long-time rival Odinga, 77. While addressing supporters of his Jubilee Party, Kenyatta said Odinga "meant well for the country".
Odinga is running for president for the fifth time, vying for presidency as the preferred candidate of the Azimio La Umoja alliance, comprising parties such as Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party and Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement. Deputy President William Ruto is running as the United Democratic Alliance nominee.
Election commission chairman Wafula Chebukati has blamed party agents - who are allowed to scrutinize result forms from constituencies before they are added to the final tally - for the slow vote count. Speaking at a Friday press conference he likened the drawn-out process to a "forensic audit”.
Kenyan election law requires ballots to be physically brought to the national tallying center for party representatives to examine them for possible discrepancies to safeguard against rigging. On previous occasions such allegations have triggered violence, as in 2017, when a disputed election resulted in 100 people being killed. Both frontrunners have vowed to ensure calm after the outcome is known.
The winning candidate must receive 50 percent of the national vote plus one, and at least 25 percent of the vote from 24 of 47 counties.
The election commission has until 16 August to declare a winner.
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