Blinken lauds Uhuru over continued peace efforts

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Saturday congratulated President Uhuru Kenyatta for his continued efforts to advance peace and security in Kenya and the region.

Blinken and Uhuru discussed his recent first visit to South Africa, the DRC and Rwanda and the importance of Kenya’s elections as a model for Africa.

He urged for peace and patience as the presidential vote tallying by IEBC gathers pace.

Only the electoral agency can declare a winner after comparing and verifying the results from constituencies.

The electoral commission has up to seven days after the election day to declare the final result.

To win the presidential race in the first round, a candidate needs:

• more than half of all the votes cast across the country
• at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in a minimum of 24 counties.

Otherwise, the voting exercise goes to a second round which by law has to happen by 8 September.