Anxious wait for Kenyans ahead of IEBC announcement

Social media was on Monday awash with funny and outfight comical comments as Kenyans waited anxiously for the declaration of the winner of the August 9 presidential election.

It was a long six-day wait for the all-important announcement by IEBC boss Wafula Chebukati as supporters of the leading presidential candidates - Raila Odinga of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition and William Ruto of UDA- expressed their anxiety over the suspense.

Some took to the internet to express their emotions, and even as either side remained optimistic that their preferred candidate would carry the day, the worry was all too obvious.

One user lamented that if it was becoming too hard to announce the winner, they should announce the loser and ease the tension across the country.

"Tutafika land of milk and honey kama tumechoka (We shall get to Canaan already too tired)," a Raila supporter said.

"I haven’t watched these much live TV ya local channels like this for the last 10 years," another user, Khadija, said.

Raila has since his 2017 presidential election loss equated the Biblical Canaan (promised land) to his quest to deliver Kenya's third liberation.

Another internet user expressed confusion the anxious wait was causing her, saying she had no clue what social app she was on.

"Sina hata nguvu ya kufungua macho. In fact sijui hapa ni wapi. I hope this is Instagram (I have no energy to open my eyes. In fact, I don't know where this is. I hope this is Instagram," she posted on Facebook.

"I am afraid, very afraid," said another user.

"Chebubae... Kill us... Jameni what kind of anxiety is this?" she quipped on Twitter.

Another user @purevibeezz was of the opinion that the gospel choir that entertained quests at Bomas of Kenya ahead of the results announcement was unnecessary and was delaying the important declaration.

"Holding a country ransom to listen to gospel songs is crazy," she said.

But @mqhlay differed with her saying, "Please stop getting mad over the Bomas choirs. That's history, and probably the future. Get used to them."

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in a statement said it would declare the winner of the presidential elections at 3 pm.

And at 3 pm, Ruto arrived at Bomas in a convoy escorted by UDA-elect leaders and members of his campaign team.

However, his main rival Raila was no show as late as 4 pm.

"When normal people say 3 pm. They mean 3:00 pm... but in Kenya, it means anytime after 3," a Twitter user @e_lumumba said.

"Is there a wine glass big enough for this afternoon?" another user asked.

Meanwhile, as speculation continued to shroud the announcement of the presidential outcome, businesses within the CBD closed, seemingly as a cautionary measure owing to the looting that normally accompanies chaos that come with election results announcement.