Kenyans Want the Election to be Over—These Are Their Reactions

KENYA—Round 1 of the Kenyan Elections took place yesterday and according to provisional results, Uhuru Kenyatta, the current president, stands for re-election after winning 54.3 percent of votes.

Kenya follows a modified version of the two-round system. Because Kenyatta won more than 50 percent of votes it's unlikely that there will be a round 2, unless he fails to fulfill the second condition— winning  25 percent of votes in at least 24 counties.

After hearing of Kenyatta's victory, his main challenger and long-time rival Raila Odinga called the results a "complete fraud," claiming the new electronic system used to count the votes had been hacked.  He later posted on his Twitter account a series of "proof" corroborating his story.

Computer logs accompanying the Presidential Election 2017 briefing - 'WE GOT THEM' - can be found here: https://t.co/xILTMKdKiMpic.twitter.com/YLxblMsfWf

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) August 9, 2017

The fraud Jubilee has perpetuated on Kenyans surpasses any level of voter theft in our country's history. This time we caught them.

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) August 9, 2017

The two candidates have a  deep inherited rivalry. Kenyatta's father, a Kikuyu, was the first President of Kenya and Odinga, a Luo, was his vice-president. When the two of them bitterly parted ways  in 1966, political rivalries between the two ethnic groups ensued.

This is also not the first time Odinga has contested an election's results. In both 2007 and 2013, he ran against Uhuru and following his loss declared the elections rigged. The elections took a dramatic turn in 2007, when 1200 people where killed in post-ballot violence.

While this time most parts of Kenya remained calm, angry protesters from Mathara and Kisumu took to the streets to express their discontent. According to Aljazeera, at least three people were shot dead as police and protesters clashed.

Here is what Kenyan Twitter had to say about the recent events:

Raila is looking for some stupid children getting into the street to be killed on his behalf. Raila should concede. #KenyaDecides

— Robert ALAI (@RobertAlai) August 9, 2017

Maaaaan!! There’s nothing I hate more than drama after elections..just want this whole thing to end already!! #RailaSpeaks#KenyaDecides

— Thee Trend Setter ™ (@xtiandela) August 9, 2017

Congratulations @UKenyatta may the almighty help you on your last tenure.#KenyaDecides

You're the Chosen one

— Jaramogi Ochoro (@OtienoOchoro) August 9, 2017

#PresidentialResultsKe DID YOU KNOW: you can accept the results even if your candidate doesn't? We're that powerful. 🙌#KenyaDecides

— The Queen (@lilakanyiva) August 9, 2017