The party of Kenyan presidential frontrunner Uhuru Kenyatta described as suspect Wednesday the inclusion of a mountain of spoiled ballots in results of elections two days ago, as frustrations grew over the slow pace of the count.
Monday's elections were the first since 2007 when a dispute over the counting process erupted into weeks of deadly violence that left more than 1,100 dead.
Leaders and election officials urged calm after hitches led the electronic tallying system to stall after votes from just over 40 percent of polling stations had been counted, giving Kenyatta 53 percent of valid votes with 42 percent to his closest rival, Raila Odinga.
With the gap small enough to be overturned, the inclusion of the large number of spoiled ballots in the count was becoming a key controversy.
Spoiled ballots make up more than five percent of votes cast so far and made public.
Their inclusion was motivated by a "sinister and suspect" logic, charged an official from Kenyatta's coalition, Charity Ngilu.
"The Jubilee Coalition is scandalised that sensible Kenyans can so much as think of including condemned ballots," she told reporters.
The inclusion of so many spoiled ballots in the count greatly adds to the number of votes needed for a candidate to break the 50 percent threshold for a first round win, raising the prospect of another round due within a month.
There was also concern over the widespread failure of a system by which the electoral commission had been broadcasting running tallies based on encrypted text messages received from polling stations.
After the system stalled midday Wednesday, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) switched to reading out results delivered in person by returning officers.
With the electronic scoreboard removed, it was no longer possible to see who had an overall lead.
-- Final results Friday --
Later Wednesday, the IEBC said 140 of its 290 officers had returned to Nairobi and that the others were expected on Thursday.
"We will announce the official results on Friday," Commission President Isaak Hassan said.
Helicopters and chartered planes ferried election officials from far-flung counties to Nairobi to deliver results, with others coming by road.
At this rate, publication of country-wide results could still take days.
Kalonzo Musyoka, Kenyan vice-president and Odinga's running mate, said the party was worried at the "failure of the IEBC electronic registers as well as the huge numbers of spoilt votes".
But he urged supporters to keep the peace.
Odinga, the prime minister, says he was robbed of victory in 2007 when disputed results triggered the bloody ethnic violence.
Kenyatta faces trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity over the violence.
To win outright and avoid a second round runoff, a candidate must win "more than half of all the votes cast", according to the constitution, as well as at least 25 percent of votes in more than half of all 47 counties.
Kenya's Daily Nation warned in its Wednesday editorial that even though the elections were largely peaceful there was a potential "rocky road" ahead.
"Election-related violence last time occurred not during the peaceful voting and counting, but in protest after the announcement of suspect results following lengthy unexplained delays," it noted.
Many have complained at a lack of voter education ahead of the polls, one of the most complex Kenya has ever held with six ballots cast, including for governors.
"It's taking a long time, let's hope that they are not doing something fishy," said airport worker Jack Mwai.
The electronic systems that failed were designed to frustrate potential rigging and no major incidents have been reported so far.
Kenya has been largely calm in recent days apart from isolated incidents of violence, including clashes on the coast between police and attackers that killed 12, as well as several bomb explosions, wounding at least two.
The results of the last poll, pitting President Mwai Kibaki against Odinga, sparked a wave of protests, notably over the lack of transparency in the way the votes were counted.
Odinga and his rival Kenyatta -- the son of independent Kenya's founding president as well as one of Africa's richest and most powerful men -- have publicly vowed there will be no repeat of the 2007-08 bloodshed.
But the trials later this year at The Hague-based ICC for Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto have raised the stakes: should they win the vote, the president and vice-president could be absent for years.
AFP
Wed Mar 06 2013
![Delay of Kenyan election vote count frustrated the voters Delay of Kenyan election vote count frustrated the voters](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-03/41362614244_295x200.jpg)
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
Lebih 340,000 syarikat buat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial
Sebanyak 340,637 syarikat telah membuat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial (beneficial ownership) bagi tempoh 1 April hingga 14 Julai lepas.
Polis tunggu laporan makmal tentukan punca kematian Nur Farah Kartini
Polis sedang menunggu laporan makmal bagi menentukan punca kematian berhubung kes pembunuhan bekas penuntut Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah.
Mahkamah Persekutuan kekal hukuman mati ke atas bapa
Mahkamah Persekutuan di sini hari ini mengekalkan hukuman gantung sampai mati terhadap seorang bapa yang membunuh anak tiri lelakinya yang berusia enam tahun, 13 tahun lepas.
Keluarga mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati
Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah yang ditemukan mati di sebuah ladang kelapa sawit di Kampung Sri Kledang, Hulu Selangor petang Isnin memohon pihak media dan orang ramai berhenti mengeluarkan kenyataan yang boleh mengguris hati keluarga.
Enam ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok
Enam orang ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok, Thailand pada Selasa.
Polis Thailand dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan, pihaknya menerima panggilan kecemasan daripada kakitangan Hotel Grand Hyatt Erawan pada jam 5.30 petang yang memaklumkan mengenai penemuan mayat itu.
Jelas kenyataan itu lagi, kesemua mangsa merupakan warga asing.
Polis Thailand dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan, pihaknya menerima panggilan kecemasan daripada kakitangan Hotel Grand Hyatt Erawan pada jam 5.30 petang yang memaklumkan mengenai penemuan mayat itu.
Jelas kenyataan itu lagi, kesemua mangsa merupakan warga asing.
Disyaki terima rasuah melebihi RM300,000, ketua pegawai operasi ditahan
Seorang Ketua Pegawai Operasi syarikat konsesi lebuh raya ditahan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), kerana disyaki menerima rasuah melebihi RM300,000.
Mahkamah tolak rayuan Jason Lo
Bekas Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif syarikat telekomunikasi tempatan, Jason Jonathan Lo hari ini gagal mengetepikan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi menolak samannya terhadap Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia (Bernama) berhubung dua artikel yang diterbitkan pada 2019 dan 2020.
![Climate change in Malaysia and what it means for us Climate change in Malaysia and what it means for us](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-03/81521630303_ClimateChange.jpg)
Climate change in Malaysia and what it means for us
The worlds climate is changing for the worse, and humans are responsible for that. Lets dive into a touch of science to make sense of this.
![SPR cadang perundangan kawal dana asing semasa PRU SPR cadang perundangan kawal dana asing semasa PRU](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-01/71357169396_295x200.jpg)
SPR cadang perundangan kawal dana asing semasa PRU
SPR akan mencadangkan kepada pihak berkuasa mewujudkan satu perundangan mengenai dana asing yang diterima parti politik semasa pilihan raya.
![Rekod cemerlang MB Johor penentu kemenangan Gelang Patah Rekod cemerlang MB Johor penentu kemenangan Gelang Patah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-04/41366842506_295x200.jpg)
Rekod cemerlang MB Johor penentu kemenangan Gelang Patah
Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Abd Ghani Othman dipilih menjadi calon bagi kerusi Parlimen Gelang Patah kerana rekod cemerlang beliau sebagai menteri besar.
![Masa untuk Kedah kembali kepada BN - Muhyiddin Masa untuk Kedah kembali kepada BN - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-04/71366694369_295x200.jpg)
Masa untuk Kedah kembali kepada BN - Muhyiddin
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata pilihan raya umum ke-13 ini ialah masa terbaik untuk rakyat Kedah kembali kepada Barisan Nasional (BN).
![''Ramai rakyat Selangor O.K.U.'' ''Ramai rakyat Selangor O.K.U.''](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-04/71366691590_295x200.jpg)
''Ramai rakyat Selangor O.K.U.''
Wartawan Wan Syamsul Amly mengikut kempen Perdana Menteri di Selangor dan melihat semangat orang kuat Barisan Nasional di negeri itu.
![Harapan pengundi Teluk Kemang Harapan pengundi Teluk Kemang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-04/61366671650_120x90.jpg)
Harapan pengundi Teluk Kemang
Apakah yang dimahukan oleh penduduk di Teluk Kemang daripada wakil rakyat yang akan mereka pilih pada 5 Mei ini?
![Kenapa Pas langgar calon PKR? Kenapa Pas langgar calon PKR?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2012-12/51355631430_295x200.jpg)
Kenapa Pas langgar calon PKR?
Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang beri alasan apa punca insiden berlakunya pertindihan kerusi antara rakan pakatan.
![Pembangkang bertelingkah, bonus bagi BN Pembangkang bertelingkah, bonus bagi BN](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-04/41365089890_295x200.jpg)
Pembangkang bertelingkah, bonus bagi BN
Pertelingkahan pembangkang mengenai siapa calon di 15 kawasan Parlimen seluruh negara akan memberikan kelebihan kepada BN.
![Polis mulakan siasatan penyebaran VCD Polis mulakan siasatan penyebaran VCD](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-04/81365524523_295x200.jpg)
Polis mulakan siasatan penyebaran VCD
Polis kini memulakan siasatan kes penyebaran VCD aksi seorang lelaki yang menyerupai pemimpin kanan parti pembangkang dengan seorang wanita di Terengganu.