Kenya polls: Kenyatta in early lead

Kenyans living in Rwanda thronged the Kenya High commission in Kigali to participate in the general election.

Monday, March 04, 2013
A voter casts her vote at the Kenyan High Commission in Kigali yesterday. Kenyans took to the polls to vote for a new leader to replace outgoing President Mwai Kibaki. By press time, ....

Kenyans living in Rwanda thronged the Kenya High commission in Kigali to participate in the general election.The sole polling station in Kacyiru saw a long queue of Kenyans with their documents waiting to cast their vote. More than 4,000 Kenyan nationals live in Rwanda, although the majority of them returned home to participate in the exercise."It’s my democratic right and national duty to vote. I want democratic change in my country such that we can end the impunity,” Peter Andere, an insurance consultant, said after casting his vote.Elizabeth Karua, an auditor, said it is imperative for the nationals to decide a visionary leader, who would move the country ahead, adding that she would go with whoever will win."If I had remained home I would be the one to blame; we are always complaining that we, the Diaspora, don’t participate in the development of our country, that’s why I wanted to be part of this process and I am happy I played my part,” Karua said.Of the 654 voters who registered, only 578 turned up.After tallying, CORD’s Raila Odinga led the Rwanda Diaspora poll 295, followed by Uhuru Kenyatta with 234.Peter Kenneth came in third position with 29 votes, Martha Karua had 11 as Musalia Mudavadi got 5 votes, with James Ole Kiyiapi scrapping 3. The rest did not get any vote."There was transparency in the whole process, we have been watching since morning; people showed commitment and we did not experience any problem,” Isaac Nkundabantu, an electoral observer said.