Kenyans Vote In Crucial Election

Kenyans are voting in an election that observers describe as the most important in the country’s history.

It is the first time a vote has taken place under a new constitution, designed to prevent a repeat of violence that followed the 2007 polls.

More than 1,000 people died when supporters of rival candidates clashed over a contested result.

Despite appeals for calm, reports say at least two police officers died in clashes near Mombasa early on Monday.

Officials said a gang attacked police in the region of Changamwe outside the port city in the early hours.

Kenyans will choose a president, members of parliament and senators, county governors and members of the newly-formed county assembly.

However, the BBC’s Gabriel Gatehouse in the capital Nairobi says all eyes are on the presidency.

Eight candidates are standing but it is essentially a two-horse race pitting Prime Minister Raila Odinga against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, he says.

Mr Kenyatta, son of Kenya’s founding father Jomo Kenyatta, is due to stand trial at the International Criminal Court for his alleged role in orchestrating the violence five years ago.

BBC

Posted by Editor on March 4, 2013. Filed under AFRICA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry