Kenya Presidential Election: Vice president leads

After days of tense anticipation, Kenya was getting closer on Monday to learning the results of its fiercely contested presidential election.

Based on official results from more than 80% of constituencies, the Daily Nation newspaper reported that Deputy President William Ruto was in the lead with slightly more than 51% of the vote, compared to Raila Odinga's 48%.

As the wait for the official results of the August 9 election dragged on, both men had made a calm request on Sunday.

Although voting day went mostly without incident, Kenyans are still troubled by the memories of vote-rigging and deadly violence in 2007–2008 and 2017.

Pressure is mounting on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to conduct a free and fair election in a nation that is seen as a model of stability in a volatile area.

The Kenyan constitution mandates that results be released no later than Tuesday.

Ruto, 55, is the deputy president but is essentially running as the opposition candidate after outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta backed his erstwhile rival Raila Odinga, 77, who is standing for the presidency for the fifth time.

Six elections were held in Kenya, and voters choose a new president as well as senators, governors, legislators, women representatives, and over 1,500 county leaders.

Around 65% of Kenya's 22 million registered voters turned out, which was lower than expected. Observers attribute this to voter apathy toward the political establishment in a nation where the cost of living is at an all-time high.

The IEBC had come under heavy fire for how it handled the August 2017 election, which was voided by the Supreme Court after Odinga challenged the results. This was a historic first for Africa.

In the tumult that followed the election, dozens of people died, with police brutality being held responsible.

After Odinga boycotted the October runoff, Kenyatta went on to win.