Kenyan Electoral Commission denies hacking claims by opposition

Kenya’s electoral commission has rejected opposition claims its IT system was hacked in order to manipulate Tuesday’s election results.

Chief electoral officer, Ezra Chiloba, speaking in response to presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s rejection of the provisional results, said the systems were not compromised at any point.

The opposition’s claim led to sporadic outbreaks of violence. The government has however denied that anyone died in clashes on Wednesday between security forces and Mr Odinga’s supporters in the capital, Nairobi, and the western town of Kisumu, an opposition stronghold.

Earlier reports also indicated that two protesters had been shot dead in Nairobi after police were attacked with machetes while two men had been killed by officers in Kisumu when a gang attacked a vote tallying station.

Many fear a repeat of the violence after the disputed election 10 years ago when more than 1,100 Kenyans died and 600,000 were displaced.

Raw polling data published on the website of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says that with almost 97% of results in, Mr Kenyatta – who is seeking a second term – is leading with about 54.3%, to Mr Odinga’s 44.8% share of the vote.

However, it has been stressed by the IEBC that these results are preliminary, and have yet to be certified officially.

The commission has not said when it will publish the final results. Legally, it has to announce the results within seven days of polling stations closing.