The OFFICIAL U.S Statement on the ongoing tallying of VOTES at Bomas of Kenya

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Spokesperson

STATEMENT BY PATRICK VENTRELL, ACTING DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON

Elections in Kenya

The United States applauds the Kenyan people for participating peacefully in the March 4 national elections.

Although there were scattered acts of violence in two areas of the country, the vast majority of Kenyans voted in a calm, patient, and orderly manner. The final results are not in.  Kenya’s Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission is in the process of tallying the ballots and we expect final results soon. We encourage the electoral commission to continue its work in a thorough, transparent, and professional manner.

We encourage all Kenyans to come together and move forward peacefully to realize the full promise and benefits of the new constitution. We urge that any election disputes be resolved peacefully through the Kenyan legal system. It is critical that Kenyans avoid the post-election violence that marred the December 2007 presidential contest.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE