Kenya: ECK denies rigging votes

(SomaliNet) The Electoral Commission of Kenya on Thursday rejected claims it rigged December polls in favour of President Mwai Kibaki, touching off the country\'s worst political and security crisis in 25 years.

The board said it determined the winner of the December 27 elections on the basis of the final vote tally and denied accusations by the Orange Democratic Movement of opposition candidate and pre-poll frontrunner Raila Odinga that it doctored the results.

\"The ECK determines the winner of the presidential elections on the basis of the final tally. In this regard, Mwai Kibaki was pronounced winner having garnered the highest number of votes - 4 584 721 notes against Hon. Raila Odinga\'s 4 352 993,\" the ECK said in a statement.

The statement said it had repeatedly expressed its willingness to review the results with either party.

Kenyan newspapers earlier this month quoted ECK chairman Samuel Kivuitu as admitting that he was not sure who won the election, but the board argued in its statement that Kivuitu was misquoted.

The opposition dismissed the electoral board\'s defence, reiterating its allegations that the ECK and Kibaki\'s government joined forces to steal the election from Odinga.

\"The ECK which violated every aspect of its integrity and independence and willfully engaged in rigging the outcome of the elections is now trying to distract attention from its crimes by raising spurious issues,\" ODM spokesman Salim Lone told AFP.

Odinga has refused to seek legal redress, arguing the courts are loyal to Kibaki and has instead urged the president to step down.

Odinga held an edge on Kibaki in interim tallies during much of the three-day counting process before a late surge by Kibaki saw the incumbent clinch victory, prompting claims of fraud.

Post-election violence across the east African nation has killed at least 790 people and displaced some 260 000 others. - AFP