Kenyan Pundit

- No briefing from the ECK on the way about what’s next.

- During the press briefing, Kivuitu went straight to announcing results, nothing about the process last night and what caused the delay. I’m really at a loss of words for the way he is operating right now.

- Will be back once the situation changes.

- Teargas thrown at KICC

- Members of the public kicked out of the briefing hall.

- GSU is general services unit

- Kivuitu gone to announce the briefing from another room, I think.

Raila holds an impromptu press conference.

- ODM has raised issues of serious concern not just to ODM, but to the rest of the country. They want the ECK to come out with a verdict that reflects the will of the Kenyan people. Kenyans don’t want to be cheated.

- ODM has evidence which confirms that the figures which the ECK is going to use are false figures. These issues had been raised earlier this morning with the ECK during consultations.

- Ruto speaks. It is important to realize that ODM is not joking, serious allegations are being made. Showed a copy of the document from Molo signed by the returning officer 55,755 Kibaki, 75,000 was read by the ECK - the returning officer is in the building and willing to confirm this and unwilling to act on its own document and listen to its own officers. There are officers of the ECK who have refused to be part of the doctoring and have gone home. There is one officer who is going to blow the whistle.

- An officer of the ECK speaks. Claims he is a whistleblower. Form 16 A is delivered by the returning officers to the ECK at the Commission for the process of tallying, nothing additional is supposed to be added only tallying and presentation to the ECK. There is open alteration going on at the KICC. His conscience will not allow him to keep quiet. He is putting his life on the line by speaking. Some constituencies numbers have been topped up by about 20,000. Said that officers are being asked to doctor at KICC until the right result is obtained.

Kivuitu walks out. Briefing is suspended.

Pray for Kenya.

ECK briefing just started a few minutes ago.

- ODM disputes the Molo results a few minutes later. The ECK returning officer is brought in with a different result on the form 16 A. All hell is breaking lose. Ruto wants the returning officer to read his tally.

Chaos at the briefing. GSU brought in.

PNU just had an impromptu press conference at KICC.

Mungantana spoke first and sounded like he was at a campaign rally.

- First he had an issue with Ruto holding a press conference from the ECK Chairman’s chair and said that was disrepectful (guys…most of the country suspects you are rigging the elections and this is what you start off with?).

- Then he said that everyone has their own figures and this back and forth could go on forever (I agree, where is goddamn ECK). Went on to accuse ODM of incitement by claiming rigging.

Kiunjiru spoke next.

- Said that ODM was blockading the ECK and using delaying tactics to prevent the ECK from announcing the results.

- Said that Ruto was lying and that ODM’s statement was a sign of panic and desperation.

- Then finally after lots of polemics he appealed for calm until they results confirming that PNU will definitely win are announced (did he need to throw PNU in there?).

Kibwana spoke next.

- Accused ODM of usurping the mandate of ECK. Asked them to go to court if they had issues. Rambled on for a few minutes without really saying anything.

Wetangula spoke next.

- PNU also has issues e.g. in Cheplaungu but are not harassing the ECK. Will challenge in court if necessary.

- Also appealed for calm among Kenyans.

Overall, high on polemics and short on substance. Looks like it was hastily arranged. There was no appeal to reason or a good presentation of their case. Maybe they should have had someone more effective like Karua speak on their behalf. Again I’ll repeat that it is disingenuous to offer courts as a solution when petitions can be in courts for up to 5 years.

Some people arguing that Raila should concede for the sake of the country and push for a vote of no confidence since he has a majority and another election is held. However, we all know how Kenyan MPs operate, how many of them will be willing to go back to the polls so soon. Many will jump ship from ODM faster than you can blink.