400,000 VOTES GAP: Ruto Maintains Lead Over Odinga as 12.5 Million Votes Counted

Kenya Kwanza Coalition candidate William Samoei Ruto is ahead of Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Amollo Odinga as vote tallying at the Bomas of Kenya continues. 

With at least 253 of 291 constituencies already tallied, Ruto is ahead of Odinga by about 400,000 votes.

As of 9am on Monday, August 15, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had so far tallied 12,517,145 votes.

Of these total votes, Ruto has garnered 6,406,388 votes, equivalent to 51.18 per cent.

Odinga had managed 6,025,940 votes or 48.14 per cent.

The 38 constituencies which are yet to be computed into the official tally are expected to be defining. Ruto must maintain his lead to win while Odinga needs more votes to overturn the UDA boss’ lead.

According to Kenya’s electoral laws, for one to be declared the winner of the presidential election, he or she must garner 50 per cent plus one of the valid votes cast. The winner must also garner at least 25 per cent of the votes in more than 24 counties.

As the count at the National Tallying Centre moves to an end, there is some likelihood of a rerun based on the two rules that will determine if there will be a clear winner.

With the IEBC running out of time, the commission is expected to announce final results. The IEBC, whose leader is Wafula Chebukati, is expected to make the final declaration today. From polling day on Tuesday, August 09, the Commission has seven days within which to make the big announcement.

Both Odinga’s and Ruto’s sides are claiming victory but the two principals have called for calm.

See LIVE UPDATES on how Ruto and Raila are battling it out in each constituency HERE.