Kenya’s opposition presidential candidate Raila Odinga has rejected the presidential election result, citing the alleged hacking of the Electoral Commission’s systems to slant the victory towards his main opponent President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Odinga’s rejection of the results led to protests in the Western City of Kisumu and fueled fears that the country may witness post election chaos.
The Electoral Commission has denied that its systems have been compromised indicating that they are highly secure.
Early results have put Kenyatta in the lead with 54% of the totals votes cast against Odinga’s 45%.
In Kisumu, one of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s strongholds, angry opposition supporters lit bonfire and hurled rocks at police officers minutes after he rejected the results.
Odinga says hackers accessed the Electoral Commission’s systems using the identity of slain ICT official Chris Musando. He also says the results transmitted so far have no been accompanied by the official declaration forms.
Kenyatta’s jubilee party dismissed Odinga’s claims and urged him to concede.
The ruling party accused the opposition leader of being a sore loser.
Odinga lost the three previous three elections, and this was his last hope.
The Electoral Commission says its systems are secure, but promised to look into Odinga’s claims.
“We have faith in the systems. It is the same system we used for verification. It is the same system we are using now for transmission for… them, but for now, I cannot say if or not the system has been hacked,” Wafula Chebukati, Chairman of Electoral Commission said.
Acting Interior Security Minister Dr Fred Matiang’i assured Kenyans that security will be guaranteed.
“We are not aware of any activities that may be a threat to peace.”
At least 1 200 were killed following a dispute over polls results in 2007.
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– By Sarah Kimani
