Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's
founding leader, narrowly won the presidential poll despite facing charges of
crimes against humanity over election violence five years ago.
Kenyatta clinched 50.07% of the vote,
the election commission announced Saturday, barely breaking past the halfway
mark.His main rival, Prime Minister Raila
Odinga, got 43.31% of the vote, and said he will challenge the outcome in
court.
The constitution requires a 50% plus
one vote for an outright win.His victory puts the West in a quandary.
Kenyatta is facing trial at the International Criminal Court over post-election
violence that plunged the nation into chaos in 2007.
Shortly after election officials
announced the results, he thanked citizens for bestowing him the leadership
role and vowed to work for everyone."We celebrate the triumph of
democracy; the triumph of peace; the triumph of nationhood," Kenyatta
said. "Despite the misgivings of many in the world, we demonstrated a
level of political maturity that surpassed expectations."
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