Kenyan Prez Lost Vote, Says US Exit Poll

A US-backed exit poll of voters in last month's Kenyan presidential elections found that incumbent Mwai Kibaki lost resoundingly to challenger Raila Odinga. The poll hasn’t been publicly released yet for unknown reasons, but sources say Odinga came out 8 percentage points ahead—well above the margin of error—throwing further doubt on Kibaki’s already suspicious victory, McClatchy reports.

“People want justice and truth,” one Kenyan said. “That can only be attained if there is an independent inquiry, and that will need independent sources like the exit poll.” Kibaki is seen in Kenya as a Bush ally, but the American diplomat for the region says the US supported transparent, fair elections. (More Kenya stories.)