Kenya election 2017: Kenyatta says respect the result- Peace

People are voting in Kenya's general election amid fears that the result could trigger communal violence.

President Uhuru Kenyatta called for unity, saying he would accept the result, and urged his rivals to do the same. He said Kenyans should "move forward as one nation".

Queues at polling stations formed early and some minor stampedes were reported.

The contest pits Mr Kenyatta against his long-time rival, Raila Odinga, and is seen as too close to call.

Mr Kenyatta, the 55-year-old son of Kenya's founding president, is seeking a second and final term in office.

The final week of campaigning has been marred by the murder of a top election official and claims of vote-rigging.

Long, snaking queues

Chief EU observer Marietje Schaake said polling stations were busy and people were eager to cast their vote.

"Today is a very important day for Kenyans. We hope these elections will be peaceful, credible and transparent," she said at Nairobi's Moi Avenue primary school polling station.

Observers say the leading candidates both avoided inflammatory speeches as polling day drew closer.

In 2007, more than 1,100 Kenyans died and 600,000 were displaced after a disputed election - an outcome neither side wants to see repeated.

This time long, snaking queues were seen at some polling stations, and video footage at one showed people injured on the ground after an apparent stampede.

Some polling stations opened late, with operations hampered by heavy rain, the electoral commission reported.

It later announced that voting would be extended in those areas.

But other problems emerged, 25% of polling stations were apparently without mobile phone coverage, meaning that officials would have to drive to the nearest town to send results.

Mr Kenyatta voted at lunchtime in his home town of Gatundu, north of Nairobi, and called for peaceful elections.

"To my competitors, as I have always said, in the event that they lose, let us accept the will of the people. I am willing, myself, to accept the will of the people," he said in a brief statement.

"Let us pull this country together and let us move forward as one nation."

Opposition leader Mr Odinga cast his ballot in the Nairobi slum of Kibera.

He addressed the public on Monday, raising fears about vote-rigging and claiming the deployment of at least 150,000 members of the security forces was a ploy to intimidate voters.

However, he congratulated Mr Kenyatta on his campaign, describing him as a "worthy opponent".

Source: BBCNews