See the chaotic scenes as Kenya elects new president in Nairobi.
Election officials in Kenya are refusing to release the electoral roll following the disputed election.
“We cannot and will not release the electoral roll which is the foundation of our democratic system,” a spokesman for Kenya’s election commission (KEM) told Reuters.
The electoral roll was prepared in the presence of former President Mwai Kibaki, after he relinquished power in a bloodless coup in December.
“We can release the names of people but not the rolls,” said the spokesman.
The spokesman could not provide a reason why the documents had been withheld.
A Kenyan court ruled on Thursday that President Uhuru Kenyatta had won the country’s presidential election, after the electoral commission declared him the winner.
But questions remain over irregularities in the electoral process.
The KEM spokesman told Reuters that the election commission had only ever provided the electoral roll to the court because it was legally required to do so.
“There is no problem with the distribution of the electoral roll, but the problem is on releasing the names of voters,” he said.
“It is impossible as a matter of law for us to release names of voters after they have voted. That will compromise our legal security.”
Tens of thousands of people are believed to have voted on Wednesday.
With the country divided, President Kenyatta asked for international help to deal with widespread violence in the run-up to the election.
Security has been a significant concern, though the country is no stranger to violent unrest.
Mr Kenyatta’s election rivals have accused him of trying to steal the result of the election by refusing to count votes from people who have been intimidated, or those who fled the violence.
In the first round of the election on August 8, Mr Kenyatta received 39 per cent of votes cast, losing to his main rival of the past seven years, Mr Raila Odinga.
The second round of the election was held on October 26.
Mr Odinga said Mr Kenyatta should step down if his victory was not
