<Kibaki is sworn in for the second term.
Four days of high anxiety ended in dramatic fashion by the announcement of the presidential results, followed by the swearing-in of Kibaki and an eruption of a fresh round of violence all in quick succession.But the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) quickly rejected the results, on a day when at least 15 people were killed across the country in post-election riots.
Last night, the ODM Pentagon announced its top leadership and supporters will gather at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, from 2pm today and chart the way forward.
In the safety of the VIP lounge at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), away from the glare of the local and international media, Mr Samuel Kivuitu announced the final, hotly contested presidential results that put Kibaki in the lead with 4,584,721 votes, ODMs Mr Raila Odinga runner-up with 4,352,393 and ODM-Kenyas Mr Kalonzo Musyoka third with 879,905.
The announcement was made at a KICC venue sealed off by paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) personnel, who at least twice during the last two days of the nerve-wracking exercise entered the halls, ready to deal with any situation.
Unlike in 2002 when there was pomp and colour on the same day as Kenyans gathered in their thousands at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, to celebrate the end of Kanus 24 years rule, the ceremony at State House last evening was a quiet affair of a few invited guests, top Government officials and Cabinet ministers, a number of them defeated in the just concluded elections.
Only the State-run Kenya Broadcasting Corporation was allowed to cover the event after independent press was shut out. But there was more bad news coming for the media.
Bad day for media
Soon after President Kibaki was sworn-in, the Government began flexing muscle, banning live TV coverage and with it a thinly veiled warning that it would crack down on any form of dissent.
Pursuant to Section 88 of the Kenya Communications Act, 1998, I am directed by the Minister for Internal Security, Hon John Michuki, that in the interest of public safety and tranquility, that I order the immediate suspension of all live broadcast until further notice, a statement signed by Dr Bitange Ndemo, the Information and Communications PS, read.
The order directs all media houses and journalists in general to forthwith stop any broadcast it described as of inciting or alarming material and take responsibility for such broadcast in line with the law.
With the edict, the Government plunged the local media into a new dilemma at a critical time in the countrys history in which the press is expected to continue playing a vital role.
The directive, faxed to newsrooms last night, was copied to the Commissioner of Police, the newly constituted Media Council of Kenya and the Director-General of the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), which issues broadcast licences.
On Sunday, bloody violence erupted in several parts of Nairobi, mainly Kibera and Mukuru and in Kisumu and Kisii moments after President Kibaki was sworn-in.
Minutes after Kibaki finished reading his acceptance speech at State House, palls of smoke could be seen clouding over Kibera and Mukuru slums as reports said several houses had been set on fire.
Kibaki was sworn in at about 6pm, soon after the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman, Mr Samuel Kivuitu, declared him the winner on KBC television.
Kivuitu had to make the unprecedented live TV announcement after ODM Pentagon members and agents made it impossible for him to announce at the ECK Media Centre, by loudly disputing the results.
All other media, apart from state-controlled KBC, were ejected by police from KICC as Kivuitu moved into his temporary office and read the televised final statement of the presidential results.
Soon after, at about 5.30pm, he was escorted by Police Commissioner, Maj-Gen Hussein Ali, to State House for the swearing-in.
Kivuitu arrived at the lawns of State House just as the ceremony was rolling out, with President Kibaki and invited guests, who included Cabinet ministers, waited.
Kivuitu read his official affirmation declaring Kibaki the winner, then the President was sworn-in in a short ceremony led by Chief Justice Evan Gicheru.
Kibaki then read a 900-word acceptance speech in which he thanked Kenyans for re-electing him.
I thank all of you for the trust you have bestowed upon me in renewing my mandate, which I accept with sincere gratitude and humility, he said.
He also called on his rivals in the election, Raila and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, to forget election differences and work together with him.
Earlier, Kivuitus attempt to announce the final result at a media briefing at KICCs Aberdare room was interrupted when Raila led his Pentagon team into the hall and asked him to repeat reading the results of one of the constituencies he had just concluded.
The ECK chairman obliged and read afresh the results for Molo, one of the remaining 18 constituencies yet to be tallied.
But he was cut short by Eldoret North MP-elect, Mr William Ruto, who waved a copy of results he claimed were the correct figures for Molo.
The situation degenerated into a chaotic scene as Kivuitu tried to proceed but the ODM politicians and agents shouted him down, telling him the results he was reading were disputed.
Some 100 GSU officers who had ringed the hall moved in to surround the chairman, who was under siege amid protests.
Ruto, who had got hold of a microphone, told Kivuitu: We have a different tally of the results from Molo other than the one you have read. You cannot continue reading results which are not real!
The GSU officers moved in on the ODM team and started shoving them out of the hall.
Raila, Ruto, Mr Joe Nyagah, Mr Najib Balala, Mrs Charity Ngilu and Mr Musalia Mudavadi were herded out by a heavy ODM security detail as GSU officers kept pushing and poking them with batons.
Raila was at one time shoved against a wall as the politicians were herded through a narrow staircase that leads from the Aberdare Hall.
Kivuitu and his team of ECK commissioners were then surrounded and spirited back into his ECK office at KICC by armed GSU officers, where he read the results exclusively through live KBC television.
Kivuitu, who had been awaited all day by media teams, observers, envoys, election agents and politicians had walked into a restless hall at 4.37pm and proceeded straight to announce the results.
The chairman, who together with his commissioners looked tired after spending a night at KICC, said: Now I will announce the results because you want me to.
Later, Raila and the Pentagon team consulted on the KICC faade and addressed media over the standoff.
The team then returned to the Aberdare hall where Raila sat on the ECK chairmans seat and addressed the media on the disputes raised by ODM.
Lifted and published Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.standard.ke
