Before the publication of the election results, Raila Odinga, the presidential candidate for the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, asked Kenyans to uphold peace and togetherness.
Odinga addressed the public for the first time since the election on Tuesday.
Speaking to worshippers at St. Francis ACK church in Karen, the fifth-time candidate for president cited a prayer by St. Francis of Assisi that he claimed Kenyans at the time needed.
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon…,” he read the prayer by St. Francis, one of the most venerated religious figures in Roman Catholic history.
“Those words are very true for our situation here today. Let us maintain peace, and unity and keep the hope alive,”
Odinga spoke amidst a buildup of tension and anxiety amongst Kenyans who are eagerly waiting for the electoral commission’s announcement on the presidential election results.
With almost half of the results from the presidential election now confirmed, the two main candidates are running neck and neck.
As of Sunday midday, Deputy President William Ruto had taken a slight lead over ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga with 51 per cent against 48 per cent.
The head of the electoral commission has admitted that announcing the result of Tuesday’s election is too slow.
The verification of results has been stopped several times after complaints by supporters of the main candidates.
The electoral body has until Tuesday, to declare the winner of round one of the election.
The winner needs at least (50%+1) of the votes cast and over 25 per cent of votes in at least 24 counties.
