The Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Election Observation Mission to Kenya (Igad-Eom) has given a thumps up to the electoral agency for administering a proper election, saying it should be emulated by other African states.

Speaking at a Nairobi hotel on Wednesday, Ambassador Tewolde Gebremeskel, the head of the team, said their preliminary conclusion is that the General Election was peaceful, orderly and transparent.

Peace

Mr Tewolde said the process was conducted in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.

Further, the director of Igad's division on peace and security, called on politicians and political parties to respect the will of the people.

"They should refrain from any act that might be of disruptive nature to the peace and stability of the country," he said.

Voting

The East African seven-country trade bloc deployed 18 observers to monitor the Kenyan polls on Tuesday.

Mr Tewolde said polling stations in Nairobi were opened on time and there were no hitches during voting.

"The counting process had no incidences of disruption," he said.

Rigging

He said the Igad team will present its full report in due course but that the whole Kenyan election exercise was satisfactory.

However, opposition Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga has protested against the initial results claiming the tallying has been compromised.

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