Under 34% turnout in Kenyan Presidential election re-run

Kenya's Electoral Commission on Friday said that fewer than 34 per cent of the registered voters participated in Thursday's Presidential election re-run which was boycotted by the country's main opposition, the National Super Alliance.

The figure was sharply down than in the initial poll on August 8, when nearly 80 per cent of the electorate voted, reports the BBC.

Voting has been suspended until Saturday in four areas where opposition supporters clashed with police, the Commission said.

Clashes were reported across the country on Thursday as opposition leader Raila Odinga had called on his supporters to boycott the poll.

Two people were killed in the violence, including a teenage boy shot by police in the opposition stronghold of Kisumu.

The Commission has seven days to declare the results.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner in the August vote, which was annulled by the Supreme Court and demanded a re-run citing "irregularities and illegalities", the BBC reported.

After casting his vote on Thursday, Kenyatta said the country was "tired of electioneering" and it was "time we moved forward".

At least 37 people were killed and hundreds injured in clashes during the August election.

--IANS

ksk/vm