Kenya election: media tallies differ with 11 million votes counted
- Nairobi-based Daily Nation newspaper has former Prime Minister Raila Odinga leading Deputy President William Ruto 51.5 per cent to 47.9 per cent
- Rival outlet Citizen had Ruto ahead with 49.6 per cent against 49 per cent. Both publications have counted at least 11 million votes
Kenyan media tallies of ballots from Tuesday’s presidential elections showed differing provisional counts, with the electoral authority yet to announce any official results.
The Nairobi-based Daily Nation newspaper put former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the lead with 51.5 per cent of the vote, compared with 47.9 per cent for Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday morning.
Rival outlet Citizen had Ruto ahead with 49.6 per cent against 49 per cent for Odinga. Both publications have counted at least 10 million votes – turnout in the election is estimated at about 65 per cent of the 22.1 million registered voters.
Kenyan publications are using forms digitally submitted by polling stations to the Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to compile their tallies. The IEBC has said it will not publish any results until it has verified the original forms.
The presidential candidates must secure more than half the valid votes cast and at least a quarter of the ballots in half of Kenya’s 47 counties to be declared the winner. If no candidate meets that threshold, a fresh election must be held within 30 days.