Kenya‘s electoral commission says there was a less 34% turn out in Thursday’s controversial presidential rerun.
Chairperson Wafula Chebukati says only 6.5 million registered voters turned out to cast their ballots in 267 of the 290 constituencies.
The polls were marred by a boycott called by opposition leader Raila Odinga and violence in some of his strongholds.
The turnout has sharply declined compared to the 80% of registered voters who cast their ballots in August, when the country first went to the polls.
Several opposition zones witnessed a disruption in the voting process due to insecurity. Voting has been suspended until Saturday in four counties in Western Kenya where opposition supporters clashed with the police for the better part of Thursday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta who is seeking a second and final term had urged his supporters to turn out in large numbers, but even in his Central Kenya turn out is below what was witnessed in August.
The Supreme Court nullified Kenyatta’s August victory and ordered a fresh poll citing irregularities and illegalities.
Odinga pulled out of the race demanding reforms in the electoral commission.
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– By Sarah Kimani
