KENYANS VOTE IN TIGHT ELECTIONS TODAY

By www.mknewslink.com reporter

In Nairobi-Kenya

Kenyans began voting today in general elections headlined by a too-close-to-call battle between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga, sparking fears of violence in the country.

Long lines of voters snaked outside of polling stations around the country, many of them camping out from before midnight, under heavy security.

Voting got underway shortly after 6am (0300 GMT) and all eyes are on electronic voter identification and tallying system whose success is seen as crucial to a smooth election.

In Nairobi’s largest slum Kibera, an opposition stronghold, angry shouts rang out due to a 15 minute delay, but calm swiftly returned as polling stations opened.

“I voted Raila, because he will be so much better to us. But if he does not win, it’s ok. It’s a democracy after all. Really, there’s no need for violence,” said Tom Mboya, 43, who works in construction.

Tensions soared in the last days of the campaign with the murder of a top election official and opposition claims that one of its vote tallying centres was raided by police, heightening a feverish atmosphere of conspiracy and suspicion.

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