'Yes' team declares referendum victory

The 'Yes' team has declared referendum victory, as the Interim Independent Electoral Commission cautioned both Yes and No camps against declaring provisional results.

The Yes camp leaders described the vote as a breathtaking victory for all Kenyans, adding that it marked the birth of a new republic.

Addressing a news conference at Bomas of Kenya, they extended an olive branch to their 'No' rivals to work together with them in implementing a good constitution.

"We celebrate this victory with grace. It is a victory for all Kenyans." said Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi, who read a statement on behalf of the team.

Addressing the news conference, Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi led a team of cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament in the 'Yes' team in calling for unity among Kenyans in the post-referendum period.

"A new republic is with us. It is a new Kenya. Yesterday was history," they said in the statement.

The group said: "Let us embrace one another because the new constitution is designed for all of us," said Mr Mudavadi.

Provisional results by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission currently stand at 4,181,075 votes for the Yes team and 2,072,710 for the No team. The official final tally will not be available until later, as the commission has only so far certified the results of 75 out the 210 constituencies in the country, slightly over a third of the total votes.

On Thursday, a statement posted by the official Government spokesman said President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga would address the nation regarding the outcome of the referendum later in the day, noting however, that this was tentative, in anticipation of the formal announcement of the results by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission.