NAIROBI—Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki won a second term on Sunday in an election victory challenged by the opposition that triggered deadly riots by tens of thousands of his rival's supporters.
Pushing the stakes still higher, opposition challenger Raila Odinga rubbished the results as rigged and announced an alternative inauguration for Monday in a Nairobi park.
To curb mounting chaos in a nation normally known as a haven of stability in volatile east Africa, the government sent trucks of police onto the streets and banned live TV transmissions.
As smoke billowed from protests in Nairobi slums, Kibaki, 76, was sworn in for another five-year term on the lawn of State House just an hour after the final vote tally was read, his hand clutching a Bible.
He urged Kenyans to forget election "passions" and promised a corruption-free government to forge unity in the ethnically polarised nation of 36 million, the region's biggest economy.
"I thank all of you for the trust you have bestowed upon me," he said. "I urge all of us to set aside the passions that were excited by the election process and work together."
Official results showed him beating Odinga by 4.58 million votes to 4.35 million.
At opposition headquarters, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) invited supporters to an alternative inauguration ceremony for the "people's president" Odinga on Monday afternoon.
"There is a clique of people around Kibaki trying to rob Kenyans of the election," he said, wiping away tears. "The train of democracy in Kenya is unstoppable like the flow of the Nile."
As Odinga spoke, the government outlawed live TV broadcasts—and transmission of his news conference was cut. "People who want to commit a crime do so in darkness," he quipped.
Word of Kibaki's victory sent some of his supporters onto the streets in celebration. But they were fast outnumbered by furious opposition supporters.
Local TV said 10 people were killed in Kisii, an ethnically-mixed town in Nyanza, Odinga's ethnic Luo homeland.
Police shot into a crowd in Kisumu, killing another three people, residents and witnesses said. A Reuters reporter was attacked in Kisumu.
Fear
Some Nairobi shanty-town dwellers called wealthier friends and begged for refuge in their homes. Before the anticipated announcement, others could be seen leaving ethnically-mixed slums with their bags packed.
One group of Kisumu rioters yelled: "We give Kibaki 24-hours to hand over power or we will come to Nairobi."
In the coastal resort of Mombasa, a post office and a pizza restaurant were on fire. And in the central town of Naivasha, pro-Kibaki youths torched an ODM office, witnesses said.
Government sources warned that the state would not tolerate any organised mayhem.
A blackout plunged Nairobi's Kibera slum into darkness as police fired live rounds and teargas to disperse demonstrators.
"There can be no peace without Raila," said one resident.
Opposition allegations of rigging had already fuelled two days of ethnic riots. Kibaki's camp said ODM also rigged votes.
Kenya's electoral commission (ECK) head, Samuel Kivuitu, declared Kibaki winner after chaotic scenes at the vote tallying centre, from which he had to be escorted to safety by paramilitary police.
Chief European Union observer Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said doubt remained over the accuracy of the count and the ECK had not established the credibility of the tallying process.
"We regret that it has not been possible to address irregularities about which both the EU and the ECK have evidence ... some doubt remains as to the accuracy of the result of the presidential election as announced today," he said.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Kenya's former colonial ruler had "real concerns" at reported irregularities.
The U.S. State Department congratulated Kibaki and urged Kenyans to abide by the electoral commission's decision.
After earlier clashes and rumours of a possible declaration of a state of emergency, which last happened after a 1982 coup Odinga says he helped plan, Kenyans mostly stayed at home.
The few supermarkets and food shops that opened were packed with nervous customers earlier on Sunday. Shelves of meat, milk, beer, bottled water and other provisions emptied fast.
"This is the saddest day in the history of democracy in this country," said local analyst Koki Muli. "It is a coup d'etat."
Robert Shaw, a Kenya-based economic analyst who worked for Odinga in the past, said all the evidence showed the poll was flawed and there was "no real confirmation" Kibaki won.
"We are in for a period of violence and turbulence, without doubt."
Feeds