The failure of an electronic vote-counting system has cast a shadow of doubt about the nail-biting finish.
Uhuru (Swahili word for independence) Kenyatta emerged as the winner in the presidential vote by a razor thin margin.
Until now the deputy prime minister, Kenyatta is the son of the rich and prosperous founding father and president Jomo Kenyatta.
The 58-year-old Kenyatta is one of the richest men in the country.
His father’s name had a lot to do with his slim victory.
A number of polls had predicted this race was going to be a neck to neck race.
Hid closest rival in the presidential race was the current Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is also the son of former Opposition leader Oginga Odinga, a colourful Kenyan figure known to many as the double O.
The latest election was relatively peaceful – although not without violence – compared to the last vote in 2007 which claimed 1,200 innocent lives and plunged the country into chaos.
Having lived and worked in Kenya, I know tribalism plays a huge role in politics in this East African country.
Kenyan officials finished their slow-, week-long counting of ballots and named Kenyatta the fourth president of Kenya.
Reaction to the closely fought elections has been mixed.
Many fear this is not the end.
I hope they are wrong.
Kenyatta secured a slim majority of 50.07 percent of the vote.
International observers say the vote was largely transparent and credible.
This eliminated the need for a runoff against his main rival, who is certain to appeal on grounds of election fraud.
Many Kenyans are praying for peace to prevail.
The vote count dragged on and non because of technical problems.
The election process was stymied by myriad breakdowns and errors.
Kenyans deserve to be congratulated for voting without violence.
More than 12.3 million Kenyans voted in this election.
Kenyatta is facing charges at the International Criminal Court.
The United States and many European countries have warned of “consequences” if Kenyatta wins.
Even Odinga made fun of this during a presidential debate, saying Kenyatta may have to govern the country from The Hague via Skype if he wins the vote.
The International Criminal Court has accused Kenyatta for his alleged role in the 2007 post election violence.
His running mate William Ruto also faces similar charges.
He is accused of bankrolling death squads that killed 1,200 in the weeks of politically-stroked ethnic fighting that followed the last election.
Kenyatta’s trial is set to begin in July and could take years, meaning that he may have to rule the country from The Hague in Netherlands for much of his five-year term.
Kenyatta has promised to report to The Hague to face charges against humanity.
Both men have denied the charges and say they plan to clear their names.
Kenya is the linchpin of East Africa’s growing economy and plays a vital security role in the fight against the Somali militants.
Kenyatta comes from the dominant Kikuyu tribe which accounts for about a fifth of Kenya’s 40 million people.
Odinga is a Luo, the second largest tribe in Kenya.
Neither could have won solely by rely solely on their own tribal supporters.
Both had running mates from other tribes to beef up their support.
