Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
Alphonce Shiundu
4 August 2010
Nairobi — An estimated 4,000 guests on Wednesday evening witnessed the national vote tallying at the Bomas of Kenya.
A government team comprising officers from the President's and the Prime Minister's offices, as well as permanent secretaries had reserved seats in the hut-shaped auditorium that was the centre of focus when the vote counting started.
The Interim Independent Electoral Commission has 27,689 polling stations across the country. The move to have as many people in the national tallying centre as possible was part of the IIEC's attempt at transparency in the tallying process.
A perceived doctoring of results at the national tallying centre in the last General Election was among the contributing factor in the two-month long political crisis, ethnic blood- letting and widespread violence.
The violence across the country led to the deaths of 1,133 people, while more than 600,000 were displaced. It was not clear if the two principals -- President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga -- will attend the event that is expected to continue late into the night.
The IIEC was also expecting commissioners from the other Agenda Four commissions -- the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, the Committee of Experts, the Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission and the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.
MPs, national agents, political party representatives and diplomats were also invited. Representatives of international organisations that dot Kenya's capital were also on Wednesday night expected at the tallying centre.
Representatives of the private sector, national and international observers and journalists were also among those in the hall.
The public was also represented, with an estimated 100 seats reserved. However, it was not clear how those to attend were vetted by press time.
There was a strong police presence at the venue. The IIEC continued with timely briefings at Bomas to keep the country abreast with the results. One such a briefing is scheduled for 11a.m. Thursday morning.
