At least three people have died in clashes with police as Kenyans vote in a controversial election rerun.
ADVERTISEMENTAt least three people have been killed in violence during Kenya’s presidential re-run, according to police and hospital sources.
Officeres fired tear gas at demonstrators, while opposition leader Raila Odinga supporters blocked roads to hinder police movements.
Polling stations in the opposition stronghold of Kisumu weren’t open on Thursday, as elsewhere in the country Kenyans voted in a controversial election rerun.
Mr Odinga boycotted the new vote saying it won’t be credible because of a lack of electoral reform since August and accused Kenyatta of moving a country known for relative stability and openness toward authoritarian rule.
In Kibera, a poor area of Nairobi and another opposition stronghold, voting proceeded in areas where President Uhuru Kenyatta has support, but few voters turned out compared with the 8 August election.
The opposition boycott will almost certainly hand victory to Kenyatta, who cast his vote in Gatundu.
But it will be with a mandate compromised by low turnout and procedural flaws.
It follows a vote in August vote in which the result – Kenyatta’s victory – was annulled by the Supreme Court due to procedural irregularities.
The Africa Union’s (AU) chief election observer on Thursday morning said so far fewer people appeared to had turned out to vote in Kenya’s election re-run than in August, but cautioned it was too early to draw any conclusions.
Fewer observers are monitoring events than on 8 August, as international election observation missions, including from the European Union (EU), reduced their presence citing safety concerns.
Kenya’s election commission said due to “security challenges” in a number of places voting would be delayed until October 28.
Wafula Chebukati, head of the election commission, said areas where voting would be delayed included Homa Hay, Kisumu, Migori and Siaya – all in the opposition stronghold of western Kenya.