Anxiety over media election coverage in western Kenya

Eldoret residents are angered by several media houses they accuse of broadcasting what they claim are “fake” presidential results.

While out filming in the town, an angry crowd approached us demanding to know which TV station we worked for.

They however calmed down after we explained to them we were from the BBC.

“There are TV stations that we don’t want here, because of fake news,” one of the men in the group told me.

Leading media houses have been broadcasting differing results following Tuesday’s general election, a move that’s seen the Media Council of Kenya express concern that differing tallies were “causing anxiety and uneasiness among Kenyans”.

Caroline Sirma, a resident of Uasin Gishu, said the different figures were causing unnecessary tensions in the area, a stronghold of Deputy President William Ruto.

“We are of course ready to accept that our candidate can lose the elections. But it must be a free and fair process. I cannot even imagine Mr Ruto losing,” she told me.

But the residents all agree that peace should prevail, whoever wins the elections. The area witnessed some of the worst violence after the disputed elections of 2007.

Many have stopped their activities to follow the race between their favoured candidate and veteran politician Raila Odinga.