Uhuru Kenyatta supporters in Gatundu South celebrate after election
results showed that he had won the presidential election March 8, 2013.
WILLIAM OERI
Daily Nation
Saturday, March 09, 2013
A carnival mood engulfed the central Kenya stronghold of
President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta after election results showed he had
opened an unassailable lead.
Thousands of locals poured out
into the roads leading to Ichaweri, Uhuru’s rural home in Gatundu South
as early as 4.00 am, where they sang and danced in celebration.
Mr Kenyatta garnered 6,173,433
votes out of 12,338,667 total votes cast in last Monday’s election.
This gave Mr Kenyatta a clear 50.03 per cent win while his main
challenger Raila Odinga garnered 5,340,546 (43.28pc)
There was traffic gridlock on
the Thika superhighway caused by huge mobs who were waving twigs, TNA
banners and blowing vuvuzelas, particularly in Kasarani, Githurai, Juja
and Witeithie centres.
Motorists were were forced to join the celebrating crowds, but there were no acts of lawlessness reported.
At Gatundu, a crowd pitched
tent outside the entrance to the Kenyatta family home which was heavily
guarded by security personnel.
Mr Kenyatta's supporters
included youths, women and children many of whom walked for long
distances while others rode on pick-ups and lorries.
Most business premises in Gatundu town remained closed
Simon Kihoro, the chairman of
Thika Slum-upgrading and Settlement Scheme termed Mr Kenyatta's election
as a victory for the country.
"He is not going to be
president for Jubilee coalition, but the entire country. His opponents
should now forget their differences and join him in nation building," he
said.
In Nyeri, hundreds of
residents took to the streets as early as 5am as motorists blared their
car horns and drove around the town.
Earlier, residents had remained glued to their television screens eagerly awaiting the final tally and announcement.
Last night, security was beefed up in Nyeri town and its environs as residents waited for the final results.
Voters, who thronged polling
stations as early as 5am on March 4 General Elections, hope last
Monday’s polls will restore Kenya’s image and delete the bloody
post-election violence experienced after the 2007 December General
Elections.
The electoral commission was due to announce the final results at 11am in Nairobi.
Mr Kenyatta supporters also broke into song and dance in Nairobi, Nakuru and Eldoret.